The next time the Warriors face James Harden, he will not be wearing the Houston Rockets uniform.
That’s because Harden is being negotiated with the Brooklyn Nets in a successful four-team deal that also involves the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, according to several national reports.
The Warriors are scheduled to host Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on February 13 at the Chase Center. It remains to be seen how this trio will coexist and, undoubtedly, there are people in the basketball world who believe that things will not end well for Nets.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash certainly has a tough job in terms of keeping everyone happy and on the same page, but the talent is undeniable. And if the chemistry is strong – and if all goes well – the Nets should be a favorite for the NBA title for years to come.
The Warriors, of course, hope to find Brooklyn in the NBA finals at some point, and will have a much better chance when Klay Thompson returns from his broken right Achilles tendon next season. In the end, it is a good thing for the Warriors not to be at the same conference as the Nets.
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As for the Rockets, they joined the fun:
This is somewhat risky for the Rockets because Victor Oladipo is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. If he doesn’t sign again, Houston will still want to have the talented Caris LeVert on board.
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As for this season, we’ll see if the Warriors – who eliminated the postseason Rockets four times over a five-year period from 2015 to 2019 – end up fighting Houston for the playoff position.
In the end, Harden leaving the Rockets for the Nets is big business, and the domino effect will be felt for years to come.
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