As you may have heard, the Rockets, Nets, Pacers and Cavaliers have agreed to a four-team blockbuster trade. James Harden goes to Brooklyn. Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, and a lot of trips go to Houston. Caris LeVert and a second round goes to Indiana. Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince go to Cleveland.
The Nets and 76ers were the two teams to compete for Harden’s services at the end of the race, but Philly felt the Rockets were using them as leverage to extract as much assets as possible from the Nets, Harden’s preferred destination, said one. competition source to HoopsHype.
According to a director, Philadelphia has thrown an opportunity to improve their options as a contender by not landing Harden.
“I think Philly missed an opportunity and is now trapped in the Middle East,” an Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “They’re not as good as Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Boston, and eventually Miami. They might be a No. 5 seed at the end of the season. Ben Simmons has not improved at all in one area of his game since entering the league. He’s the same player today as he was in his rookie year, and teams discovered him in the playoffs. He is why they won’t go far. “
HoopsHype spoke to multiple executives about their responses to the profession and what it means for all four teams involved to move forward.
“I like the deal for the Pacers and Houston,” another Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. Brooklyn has given up on the king’s ransom. I’m not sure why Cleveland included it Taurean Prince as well as giving up an unprotected pick swap. Harden is the best player in the deal, but Brooklyn is all in and they have no future protection. Cleveland will try to dump Andre Drummond, and Jarrett Allen has a bright future in the competition. “
Below is a breakdown of what the trade means for each team involved.
Brooklyn nets
Brooklyn pushed all of his chips into the center of the table to acquire Harden and form a superstar trio Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
“They’d better win in the next two years,” a rival Eastern Conference manager told HoopsHype. “It will be interesting to see how all these players and personalities get along.”
Durant, Irving and Harden each have a player option for the 2022-23 season.
Irving has left the team for personal reasons, but was seen in multiple videos without a mask at a birthday party for his sister, investigating the competition.
Harden rubbed off on former Rockets teammates John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins the wrong way.
From a chemical perspective, Brooklyn now has three superstars all claiming the ball at elite speed and will have to sacrifice to keep the trio working on the field. Harden is in eighth place all-time in NBA usage speed (30.69), Durant in 12th place (30.16) and Irving in 16th place (29.29).
Harden is reunited with his former Thunder teammates, Durant and Jeff Green, and his former Rockets coach, Mike D’Antoni, in Brooklyn.
LeVert was the first Sean Marks-era design choice in Brooklyn after trading Thaddeus Young to acquire Indiana roster in 2016. It’s also worth noting that LeVert and Irving are represented at the same agency, Roc Nation. Search the nets to play without Allen DeAndre Jordan and green in the middle.
Houston missiles
Houston relocated a disgruntled star causing apparent tension in the locker room, imposed a boatload of draft picks for the future to use or turn over in future trades, and added Oladipo, a two-time All-Star.
Oladipo will be one of the best unlimited free agents on the market after the season as stated in our HoopsHype 2021 rankings.
“I’m not sure what’s going on there,” an Eastern Conference director told HoopsHype. They may just want to get rid of money, so took the expiring Oladipo to have financial flexibility next year. Or they could try to re-sign him and consider him a match with Wall. “
Multiple executives believe the Rockets will eventually act PJ Tucker by the trading deadline.
“I think Houston could move PJ into a separate deal later,” a manager told HoopsHype. “He will have value in the East, especially to fight Giannis and Durant. I see Miami going after PJ and maybe even Boston. “
As noted on HoopsHype in mid-December, multiple teams have expressed an interest in acting for Tucker, and if he stays with Houston all season, he will be open to another off-season signing with the Rockets.
Indiana Pacers
It was rumored that Oladipo wanted to leave Indiana for a while, which he denied. According to a Pacers teammate, there was no tension in the dressing room with Oladipo, despite rumors circulating about his future.
“He entered the camp with a refreshed mindset and was committed to the team, without tension,” a Pacers player told HoopsHype on condition of anonymity as the transaction is not yet official. “I think the profession has surprised us all, but it is part of the company. We all loved Vic in the locker room. “
In the end, however, the Pacers moved their star guard before potentially losing him this off-season for nothing.
LeVert has a chance to notify the backcourt Malcolm Brogdon as a full-time starter and is owed $ 17.5 million for next season and $ 18.8 million for 2022-23. Brogdon’s shooting ability, combined with LeVert’s ability to cut and create the dribble, should pair well together.
“Great pickup,” the Pacers player told HoopsHype. “I’ve been a fan of his game for a while. He has a lot of dog in him and will fit into our young core. “
Cleveland Cavaliers
Several Eastern Conference executives believe that something is going on for Drummond’s future in Cleveland after the team gave up a first round to take over Allen, who is five years younger. Drummond becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“Drummond is definitely from Cleveland,” predicted an Eastern Conference director. “Cleveland wouldn’t give up a scoop if they didn’t want Allen in the long run.”
Allen will be one of the best limited free agents on the market this off-season after Cleveland has given him a $ 5.66 million qualifying offer. Prince is due $ 13 million next season.
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You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto