Mike D’Antoni was involved in Nets’ James Harden trade

James Harden’s debut in the Nets – after being acquired in a midweek megadeal – was a brilliant 32-point triple-double in a 122-115 win over the Magic. And it became increasingly clear that the losses that drove Harden from Houston to Brooklyn were not just those of the playoffs, but the losses of Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl. Morey.

After eliminating the Rockets in the NBA bubble in early September, they parted ways with D’Antoni. The coach who helped make Harden a reigning three-time scoring champion ended up in Brooklyn as an assistant and mentor to head coach Steve Nash. Morey, the general manager who brought Harden to Houston, left to become president of the 76ers.

The two have pleaded for a meeting with Harden. And it was D’Antoni who finally got it, and will be spoiled for wealth as the offensive coordinator of a Big 3 of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“Yeah, when Daryl and Mike left, I sat down and re-evaluated everything. These are two guys that I was very comfortable with and the decision making for the organization, ”said Harden. “Once they left, I must have understood whether this organization was entering a reconstruction phase or still trying to compete at the highest level.

“[D’Antoni] was one of them. Mike is an amazing trainer. He’s been doing it for a long, long time. Obviously, Mike is a factor. Being comfortable with him, being comfortable with Kevin, knowing Kyrie, just those four pieces over there made it easy. Obviously they were in Brooklyn, for me it was obvious.

Harden’s turbulent past alongside Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and John Wall has led many to say that he cannot coexist with other stars. But his 14 assists on Saturday – in a 122-115 Nets win in which Durant scored 42 points – imply he can.

The man who last coached Harden is also Nash’s mentor and has experience with superstars and super-teams. And while Durant pushed GM Sean Marks and the rest of the front office to get Harden, it looks like D’Antoni vouched for him as well.

“It certainly pays off to have Mike,” said Marks, whose legacy will be determined by this deal. “He’s someone who knows James very well and has been coaching him for a few years, that’s for sure.

Nash may have even more pressure on him, and he will surely listen to D’Antoni, who coached him with the Suns and Lakers.

“[D’Antoni is] an invaluable resource. It would be silly not to rely on Mike for all of his experience with James and his familiarity and what James likes and how he performs best, ”Nash said. “So these are conversations that I will have with James, that we will all have as a group. And Mike with his insight and his relationship with James is invaluable.

A negative relationship also played a role in the Nets Harden’s landing.

Rocket owner Tilman Fertitta was believed to be strongly opposed to Harden’s swap to Morey. There was a grudge after Morey left Houston to become president of basketball operations for the 76ers, and the Rockets asked Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle for two draft picks (and possibly Tyrese Maxey). to even consider treating Harden in Philadelphia.

The 76ers were so sure they had made a deal that Simmons and Thybulle were told by their agents of an expected trade, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. But after Marks pitched, the Rockets never called the 76ers back for a counter-offer, essentially playing Philadelphia to get the best possible offer from Brooklyn.

“There were also a few other teams involved. It could have gone crazy, ”Harden said. “As bad as it sounds from the outside, they worked internally with me and made sure I ended up here.”