In a trade that is eerily similar to the Paul Pierce-Keven Garnett trade from 2013, the Nets have gone all in again by mortgaging their future for James Harden. It ended up being a three-team deal between the Cavaliers, Nets, and Rockets. However, the Pacers soon became involved after Caris LeVert, who Houston received as part of the deal, was immediately shipped off to Indiana for Victor Oladipo and other assets. Here is what the returns looked like for the 4 teams after the dust settled:
Cleveland Received: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
Indiana Received: Caris LeVert, 2023 Houston 2nd-round pick
Brooklyn Received: James Harden, 2024 Cleveland 2nd-round pick
Houston Received: Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, Victor Oladipo, 4 unprotected 1st-round picks, 4 pick swaps
- The unprotected 1st-round picks they receive are 2022, 2024, and 2026 Brooklyn picks and 2022
Cleveland pick (via Milwaukee)
- The pick swaps Houston receives are for 2021, 2023, 2025, 2027 with Brooklyn
For Brooklyn, this deal signals that they are going all-in to win an NBA title within the next five years. However, this is not without risk. Adding Harden into the rotation could prove an issue, as the Nets now have three players who are all in the top twenty for all time usage rates. And while both Keven Durant and Kyrie Irving have shown they can defer in the past, it is hard to imagine that both of them would be okay with being the second and third options. For the Nets, a title means they would have won the trade, but without a title it could become the second time in the past 10 years where the nets have gone all-in, only to come up empty-handed.
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