As you have heard, the Rockets, Nets, Pacers and Cavaliers have agreed to a blockbuster deal in four teams. James Harden heading for Brooklyn. Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucsand a lot of selection projects are heading to Houston. Caris LeVert and a second-round pick will go to Indiana. Jarrett Allen and Prince Taurean Head to Cleveland.
The Nets and 76ers were the two teams that fought for Harden’s services at the end of the race, but Philly felt that the Rockets were using them as leverage to extract as much assets as possible from the Nets, Harden’s favorite destination. league source for HoopsHype.
According to an executive, Philadelphia had a chance to improve its options as a competitor, failing to land Harden.
“I think Philly missed an opportunity and is now stuck, being in the middle of the east,” an Eastern Conference director told HoopsHype. “They are not as good as Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Boston and, finally, Miami. They may just be a No. 5 seed by the end of the season. Ben Simmons he hasn’t improved at all in one area of his game since joining the league. Today he is the same player as in his debut year, and the teams realized him in the playoffs. He is the reason they will not go far. ”
HoopsHype spoke with several executives about their reactions to trading and what it means for all four teams involved in progress.
“I like the business for the Pacers and Houston,” another Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “Brooklyn has given up the ransom of a king. I’m not sure why he took over Cleveland Prince Taurean as well as giving up an unprotected swap. Harden is the best player in the business, but Brooklyn is in the game and they have no protection in the future. Cleveland will seek to give up Andre Drummond, and Jarrett Allen he has a bright future in the league. ”
Below is a breakdown of what the transaction means for each team involved.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn pushed all his chips in the center of the table to buy Harden and form a superstar trio Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
“It’s better to win it in the next two years,” a rival Eastern Conference director told HoopsHype. “It will be interesting to see how all these players and personalities play together.”
Durant, Irving and Harden each have a player option for the 2022-23 season.
Irving was away from the team for personal reasons, but was seen in several videos without a mask at a birthday party for his sister, which the league is investigating.
Harden rubbed his former Rockets teammates John Wall and Veri DeMarcus the wrong way.
Chemically, Brooklyn now has three superstar players who all demand the ball at an elite rate and will have to sacrifice themselves to make the trio work on the field. Harden ranks eighth all-time in the NBA usage rate (30.69), Durant ranks 12th (30.16), and Irving ranks 16th (29.29).
Harden reunites with his former teammates Thunder, Durant and Jeff Green, and his former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni in Brooklyn.
LeVert was the first sketch of the Sean Marks era in Brooklyn after trading Thaddeus Young to acquire the Indiana team in 2016. It is worth noting and LeVert and Irving share the same agency, Roc Nation, for representation. Without Allen, look for the Nets to play DeAndre Jordan and green in the center.
Houston Rockets
Houston moved a disgruntled star who caused obvious tension in the locker room, stored a lot of project boats for the future to use or return to future trades, and added Oladipo, a two-time All-Star.
Oladipo will be one of the best unrestricted free agents on the market after the season, as mentioned in our HoopsHype 2021 ranking.
“I’m not sure what’s going on there,” an Eastern Conference director told HoopsHype. “They may just want to get rid of the money, so they took Oladipo, who is expiring, to have financial flexibility next year. Or she could try to re-sign it and see it as a match with Wall. ”
Several executives believe that the Rockets will eventually trade PJ Tucker until the trading term.
“I think Houston can move PJ to a separate deal later,” a director told HoopsHype. “It will have value in the East, especially to fight Giannis and Durant. I see Miami following PJ and maybe even Boston. ”
As mentioned in mid-December on HoopsHype, several teams have expressed interest in trading for Tucker, and if he stays with Houston throughout the season, he is open to signing again with the Rockets in the offseason.
Indiana Pacers
Rumors spread that Oladipo wanted to leave Indiana for a while, which he denied. According to a Pacers teammate, there was no tension in the locker room with Oladipo, despite rumors circulating about his future.
“He entered the camp with a refreshed mindset and was committed to the team, zero tension,” a Pacers player told HoopsHype on condition of anonymity, as the transaction is not yet official. “I think the trade surprised us all, but it’s part of the business. We all loved Vic in the locker room. ”
Eventually, however, the Pacers moved their star guard before losing it for nothing this season.
LeVert has a chance to share the field behind Malcolm Brogdon as a full-time incumbent and is owed $ 17.5 million next season and $ 18.8 million for 2022-23. Brogdon’s shooting ability, combined with LeVert’s ability to cut and create from dribbling, should fit well.
“Wonderful,” the Pacers player told HoopsHype. “I have been a fan of his game for some time. He has a lot of dog in him and he will fit in with our young core. ”
Cleveland Cavaliers
Several Eastern Conference executives believe the writing is on the wall for Drummond’s future in Cleveland after the team gave up the first-round pick to acquire Allen, who is five years younger. Drummond will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“Drummond is definitely out of Cleveland,” said an Eastern Conference director. “Cleveland wouldn’t give up a bonus if it didn’t want Allen in the long run.”
Allen will be one of the best restricted free agents on the market this season, after Cleveland will extend a $ 5.66 million qualifying offer. Prince has $ 13 million in debt next season.
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