So, it sounds as if, James Harden didn’t select and select his industry vacation spot within the deal that despatched him to the Brooklyn Nets remaining January. For those who’d requested the general public, together with the ones within the media, about how that industry went down, maximum would surely have instructed you that Harden selected to play with previous OKC good friend Kevin Durant and shape a brand new large 3 along side Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. However now Harden tells us going to Brooklyn wasn’t his selection.
“I want it labored like that. A company has to do what’s very best for his or her crew…it didn’t paintings like that. I needed to move to Brooklyn.”
When the inside track of Harden’s departure from Houston was once introduced remaining 12 months, it was once simple to position two and two in combination after we came upon he was once going to play with the Nets and previous teammate Durant. It felt just like the transfer made sense for Harden and Durant on the time. I chalked it as much as having been any other case of NBA avid gamers wielding their energy to make a large deal occur to compete for a identify.
Now we all know this was once no longer the case, consistent with Harden. Then again, I’m no longer stunned that it didn’t determine. I used to be all the time undecided in regards to the mixture of Harden and Irving, whether or not it was once basketball-related or only a character conflict. It simply appeared like that was once going to be a risky scenario because it ended up being. The studies of Harden and Durant no longer being at the similar web page was once extra sudden. Many of us concept their historical past would make for a very simple transition as soon as Harden arrived. Clearly, that isn’t what took place. Their OKC Thunder days have been just about a decade within the rearview by means of that time. Each avid gamers had grown and altered enormously over that point. So, listening to there was once a conflict between Harden and KD isn’t that far-fetched making an allowance for the personalities and types concerned.
I’ll be fair, I’m no longer purchasing this perception that Harden had 0 enter in figuring out the place he was once traded upon leaving the Rockets. Everyone knows the ability that big name avid gamers within the NBA possess. Harden makes it sound like he simply sat again and waited patiently for his industry to be finalized. Come on. I’m positive he would’ve liked to sign up for Daryl Morey in Philly remaining 12 months, however this was once all unfolding earlier than the Ben Simmons playoff debacle. So, that can were more difficult to drag off on the time with out swapping out Simmons or Joel Embiid for Harden.
On paper, it looks as if the 76ers are a most sensible contender within the japanese convention following the Harden industry. However what’s on paper and what occurs, if truth be told, will also be extremely other situations. Both means, Harden is the place he desires to be now, and the NBA global is ready to peer how he and Embiid are compatible in combination at the court docket. Optimistically, the Sixers have paid consideration and don’t fall into the similar traps that happened the Nets with Harden.
