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As you may have heard, the Rockets, Nets, Pacers and Cavaliers have agreed to a successful four-team trade. James harden heading for Brooklyn. Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, and a ton of draft picks go to Houston. Caris LeVert and a second-round pick will go to Indiana. Jarrett allen and Prince Taurus direction Cleveland.
The Nets and 76ers were the two teams vying for Harden’s services at the end of the run, but Philly felt the Rockets were using them as leverage to squeeze so many assets out of the Nets, Harden’s preferred destination, a league source told HoopsHype.
According to an executive, Philadelphia missed a chance to improve its options as a candidate by failing to land Harden.
“I think Philly missed an opportunity and is now stuck in the middle of the East,” an Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype. “They’re not as good as Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Boston and ultimately Miami. They just might be a No.5 seed at the end of the season. Ben simmons hasn’t improved at all in any area of his game since joining the league. He’s the same player today as he was in his freshman, and teams figured that out in the playoffs. That’s why they won’t go far.
HoopsHype spoke to several executives about their reactions to the trade and what it means for the four teams involved going forward.
“I like the deal for the Pacers and Houston,” another Eastern Conference leader told HoopsHype. “Brooklyn has waived a king’s ransom. I don’t know why Cleveland took Prince Taurus as well as to forgo an unprotected selection exchange. Harden is the best player in the deal, but Brooklyn is on top, and they have no protection going forward. Cleveland will seek to empty André Drummond, and Jarrett allen has a bright future in the league.
Below is a breakdown of what the profession means for each team involved.
brooklyn nets
Brooklyn pushed all of their chips to the center of the table to acquire Harden and form a superstar trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
“They better earn it in the next couple of years,” a rival Eastern Conference leader told HoopsHype. “It will be interesting to see how all of these players and personalities get along.”
Durant, Irving and Harden each have a player option for the 2022-23 season.
Irving has been absent from the team for personal reasons, but has been spotted in several videos without a mask at a birthday party for his sister, which the league is investigating.
Harden rubbed former Rockets teammates John wall and DeMarcus Cousins the wrong direction.
Chemically speaking, Brooklyn now has three superstar players who all demand the ball at elite rates and will have to sacrifice themselves for the trio to function on the pitch. Harden ranks eighth all-time in NBA utilization rate (30.69), Durant ranks 12th (30.16) and Irving ranks 16th (29.29).
Harden reunites with his former Thunder teammates Durant and Jeff Green, and his former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni in Brooklyn.
LeVert was the first pick in the Sean Marks-era Brooklyn draft after negotiation Thaddeus young to acquire Indiana’s selection in 2016. It should also be noted that 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 was causing obvious tension in the locker room, stocked up a cargo of future draft picks to use or return in future trades, and added Oladipo, a two-time All-Star.
Oladipo will be one of the best unrestricted free agents in the market after the season, as shown in our HoopsHype 2021 rankings.
“I’m not sure what’s going on there,” an Eastern Conference leader told HoopsHype. “They might just want to lose money, so it took expiring Oladipo to have financial flexibility next year. Or they could try to sign him again and see him as an adjustment with Wall.
Several executives believe the Rockets will eventually trade PJ Tucker on the transaction deadline.
“I think Houston can get PJ to go into a separate deal later,” an executive told HoopsHype. “He will be valuable in the East, especially to fight Giannis and Durant. I can see Miami going after PJ and maybe even Boston.
As reported in mid-December on HoopsHype, several teams have expressed interest in trading for Tucker, and if he stays with Houston throughout the season, he’s set to re-sign with the Rockets in the offseason. .
Indiana Pacers
Rumors circulated 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 swirling about his future.
“He came to camp with a refreshed state of mind and made a commitment to the team, no tension,” a Pacers player told HoopsHype on condition of anonymity since the trade 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.
Ultimately, however, the Pacers moved their star guard before potentially losing him for nothing this offseason.
LeVert has the chance to share the backcourt with Malcolm Brogdon as a full-time incumbent and owed $ 17.5 million next season and $ 18.8 million for 2022-2023. Brogdon’s shooting ability, paired with LeVert’s ability to cut and create the dribble, should harmonize well.
“Great pickup,” the Pacers player told HoopsHype. “I’ve been a fan of his game for a while now. He has a lot of dog in him and will suit our young nucleus.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
Several Eastern Conference executives believe the writing is on the wall for Drummond’s future in Cleveland after the team gave up a 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,” one Eastern Conference leader predicted. “Cleveland wouldn’t give up on a first if they didn’t want Allen in the long run.”
Allen will be one of the best restricted free agents on the market this offseason after Cleveland offered him a qualifying offer of $ 5.66 million. Prince owes $ 13 million next season.
Related: How NBA Players Call for Trade: ‘It’s Getting Vicious. It’s a divorce ‘
Related: Smoke Screen Art: The Thinking Process Behind Executives and Agents Leaking Information
You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto
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