You know the saying “If you don’t succeed, try try again”, because that’s exactly what the Brooklyn Nets are doing yet again. Once again, the team mortgaged their future by acquiring superstar James Harden in a four team trade also involving the Pacers, and Cavaliers, for core players, and a host of picks to go along with their already super-star duo in Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.
The deal saw the Nets lose four first round picks (two in 2022, and picks in ‘24, and ‘26), and possibly four more(2021, ‘23, ‘25’, and ‘27), which are “pick swaps” meaning the Nets get the worse of the picks between Houston and Brooklyn that season.
The teams also lost their foundation, in Caris Levert (Who was then dealt by the Rockets to Indiana for Victor OLADIPO, and a second round pick), Jarret Allen (Who was traded to Cleveland for a 2024 second round pick), Taurean Prince(Who was flipped to Cleveland along with Allen), and Ronald Kurucs.
This provided flashbacks to 2013, when Brooklyn lost four first round picks , and their core at the time to the Boston Celtics, in exchange for Kevin Garnett, Gerald Wallace, and Paul Pierce. That deal was detrimental to the franchise, as it not only set them back a few years in the future, but the fanbase also had to endure the disappointing result, of one playoff series win in the trio’s time together. After basically needing to build again from scratch; due to the teams lack of cap space, roster production, and no draft picks, Brooklyn GM Sean Marks burst onto the scene, and changed the narrative of this franchise, with this team making its “Mark” on the NBA map in 2019, despite having no superstars. Two summers ago, they finally won the offseason, acquiring Kevin Durant,and Kyrie Irving, before landing a third megastar Wednesday, in James Harden. The difference between the two trios, is that KD, and Harden are two of the top five players in basketball, with Kyrie Irving arguably in the top 10 when on the court(Irving has missed the last five games due to “personal reasons”) as well. Meanwhile, while that Boston trio was good, it didn’t have as big of an impact on the league , as this one is about to have, with two of the top five, now joining forces as one. Another reason why this isn’t like 2013, is because the Eastern Conference is now wide-open, as opposed to back then when Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh ruled the conference in Miami. Although they lost their depth, when you have a starting lineup of Joe Harris, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Deandre Jordan, it may only take guys like TLC chipping in, an helping this team win games.
For Houston, they have also come away with winners, as they’re four first round picks they have just acquired, will help this team that is now officially in rebuild mode, after much speculation since last seasons playoff loss to the Lakers, making it clear that their championship window was closed. The acquisition of Star Victor Oladipo on an expiring deal, should help them get more draft capital, and youngsters in a trade later this season, while the acquisitions of Kurucs, and Exum will be able to kickstart the process as well. When you put it into perspective, Houston essentially got for Harden, what Boston got for three stars in 2013, and while I think that speaks to just how good James Harden is, I think it also paves the way for a potential rebirth atop the Western Conference in 3-5 years, and a playoff team in a year or two, if developed properly.
The team that gets bronze medal in this deal, Cleveland, because as we all know this team is in the process of laying down their foundation led by junior Collin Sexton, and rookie Isaac Okoro, among others, but what they get is a young, and dynamic 22-year-old center in Jarret Allen, as well as Taurean Prince, who will be able to help this young team move forward, with his physicality, and relentlessness on the defensive end.
As for Indiana, this is a great step in the right direction, because now you have a potential long-term franchise star in Caris Levert, who can lead this team to the playoffs beyond this season. Rather than going backwards with Oladipo’s incoming free agency, this team can move upwards with the young pieces they have, such as TJ Warren, Myles Turner, and Damonte Sabonis, and now Levert to compete to be one of the East top teams in the next couple of seasons, if the chemistry, and development continues to be there.
WINNER:
We won’t truly know right away, but I have to say the Brooklyn Nets. This was the right move, and it vaults them from “contenders” to “favorites”, for the NBA title. Anything less than a championship out of these three will be a complete disgrace to everyone invested in this organization, even more so than the 2013 deal turned out. However, championship teams need to take risks along the way, and what the Nets have done, is taken that risk, that teams like the 76ers didn’t, and acquired the superstar in James Harden. Sometimes, that course of action can lead to a reward which is what Brooklyn fans have been praying, and hoping for ever since Sean Marks took over as team GM.
With this “Triple threat” leading the way, the Nets are now primed to not only make a run, but win their first-ever NBA championship. The pieces are there and stars have aligned the right way thus far, it’s time for the Nets to grab it, and run with the opportunity to glory.
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