James Harden is leaving Houston for the Nets, where he will reunite with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to form a trio with XXL firepower offensively.
NBA star James Harden, leading scorer in the NBA for the past three seasons, who has recently expressed his wish to leave Houston, was transferred by the Rockets to Brooklyn on Wednesday, report ESPN and the site The Athletic, usually very knowledgeable. Neither of the two franchises have immediately formalized the transaction – described as a “blockbuster” by the American media – which according to them includes two other clubs, Indiana and Cleveland.
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The Nets would notably have given up four first rounds of the next drafts, Rodions Kurucs, as well as their 6th man Caris LeVert. Which was immediately traded by the Rockets with Victor Oladipo, star of the Pacers. Involved, the Cavaliers sent Dante Exum to Houston and picked up Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from Brooklyn. Harden will therefore find among the Nets the two big stars Kevin Durant, with whom he played three seasons (2009-2012) in the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Kyrie Irving. A “big 3” which makes his new team a very serious contender for the title of champion.
A divorce with the Rockets has become inevitable
The 2018 MVP is granted, he who had expressed his wish to leave Houston in November, targeting Brooklyn as his preferred destination. Divorce with the Rockets has become inescapable in recent hours, Harden having alienated his now former teammates, criticizing the level of the team on Tuesday night, coming out of a second straight defeat (117-100) against the Lakers.
“The Beard” said to the press that she was “just not good enough”. “We are very far from the other contenders. Obviously, there is no chemistry, there is a lack of talent, everything is clear from the last two matches. ” Consequence: he did not train with them on Wednesday. “We felt that it was better for the group and for James that he did not come to participate in the session,” explained Texas team coach Stephen Silas.
The MVP of the 2018 season, author of that night of 16 points, well below his usual standards (7 rebounds, 6 assists), then reiterated his wish to end the story with Houston: “I love this city , I really did everything I could. This situation is crazy, I don’t think it can get better. ”
