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Now that current NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is locked into his supermax stretch with the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA drama centers on Houston Rockets superstar James Harden.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne report that general manager Rafael Stone is exploring multiple “playoff-caliber” team trade offers in hopes the Rockets can move the disgruntled former MVP.
Harden has made it known that he wants to leave Houston. The 31-year-old prefers to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers, who were rumored to be willing to include former Gen. Ben Simmons’ No. 1 pick in a deal to land Harden.
But, Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey rejected those reports, saying that Simmons is part of the future of the franchise:
The Sixers Morey, who spent the previous eight seasons as the Rockets’ general manager, as their new president of basketball operations in November. Morey and Harden spent eight seasons together in Houston, where Harden won the NBA MVP award for the 2017-18 season.
Harden is also interested in a possible reunion with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant, who is now a member of the Nets. The main obstacle between the Rockets and Brooklyn is that Houston is not very well among the players the Nets can offer in a trade.
Woj added that more and more teams are willing to bet on Harden, who can become a free agent after three more seasons. The three-time NBA scoring champion averaged 34.3 points per game, the best in the league, last season, while adding 7.5 assists per game.
Harden missed the start of training camp while out in Atlanta and Las Vegas for undisclosed reasons, though he told reporters he was spending time with the coaches.
It would be difficult for the Golden State Warriors to put together a competitive offering of first-round picks and young players, but SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell struck a potential deal that would see Andrew Wiggins, rookie James Wiseman, and the picks head for the Rockets for Harden.
Which team do you think Harden will be traded to?
