The Sixers are trying to win their first NBA championship since 1983 and advance past the second round for the first time since 2001. record The Rockets will undoubtedly be worse without Harden, who is good enough to drag a mediocre team to the playoffs by himself, but they also shouldnt be so terriblewith a talented trio in Oladipo, Wall, and Woodthat they trigger top-four protection. Its not easy being a small-market team in the player empowerment era, but the Pacers made the necessary proactive move to remain competitive. PICKS TO ROCKETS: Brooklyn's three unprotected first-round draft picks -- 2022, 2024 and 2026 -- in the deal, plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? Hopefully, theyll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game, Vaughn said. This time, he yields Caris LeVert, a young player with All-Star potential, and an already signed contract that guarantees he would do so in a Pacers uniform. Breaking down the Golden State-Los Angeles matchup with 3 things to watch, 1 X-factor and a series prediction. Harden is ready to take the floor against former teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving; Simmons is gradually preparing for his Nets debut at a yet-to-be publicly stated date. Celtics-76ers first look - What could decide the battle of Eastern If the front office could live with giving up every pick and swap it had on offer, the Nets could stay in the running and potentially outbid a Sixers package built around Ben Simmons on volume alone. Now Sixers shot-callers Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will have to plot a course forward. Despite being without Irving, Durant nearly wills the Nets to victory with 48 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but his toe was on the line for a potential game-winner and the Bucks would prevail in overtime. At this point, hes more of a project. Then Allen started one game against Utah and tallied 19 points and 18 boardsand stayed in that position every game since. Big Number 13-3. At the Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, the Nets moved ahead of the Bucks and are now the second-favorites to win the NBA title, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers. In his absence, a creator like Oladipo should have all the room he needs to flex his gamewhich is especially valuable for a former All-Star looking to reestablish himself in a contract year. Feb. 10, 2022 (NBA Trade Deadline) According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Harden has "resisted making a formal [trade] request" out of fear of the backlash that comes with requesting a trade in back-to-back seasons. 1:27 pm ET, LeBron and Steph about to renew rivalry, debate, Warriors' beautiful game turns to brute force in Game 7, Steph's GOAT case grows with Game 7 50-ball, NBA playoffs prove historic level of parity has arrived, Harden makes history in Nets win over Spurs, Heat's Butler plays through rolled ankle in Game 1 win, Knicks' Randle (ankle) misses Game 1 vs. Heat, LeBron fires back at Brooks on social media, Morant admits his 'off-the-court issues' affected team, Joel Embiid (knee) doubtful for Game 1 vs. Celtics, Davis reclaims title of NBA's best defender. The Ewing Theory tries to explain how and why teams sometimes seem to improve when they lose their star player. After weeks of enduring the Harden debacle and weighing offers, Stone ultimately opted for the tantalizing potential of future first-round draft picks (four of them, plus four pick swaps). James Harden did not play, but his team still managed to score 146 points. Will the Harden-Irving-Durant combo work in Brooklyn? Stephen A. Smith reacts to the breaking news that James Harden has been traded to the Nets in a four-team blockbuster deal. Harden, who had joined the Rockets after training camp began, is averaging 24.8 points this season after three straight seasons above 30. As the former MVP slid to the Team LeBron in the last pick of the draft, it became clear that Durant consciously made the decision not to select his former teammate. Kram: As if the Thunder didnt have enough draft capital piled up over the next seven years! Perhaps The Irving Theory represents the exact opposite of that. His name has been dangled in every possible Nets trade, and his own teammate (Irving) more or less implied he (and the rest of the Nets roster) wasnt good enough to get the job done. It has been a pleasure watching them grow both as players and as people and they will always be part of our Nets family. 2 seed Celtics even though the On paper, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden had a very productive first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. 2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics, Lowe: Answering the massive questions driving this James Harden trade, James Harden trade grades: Winners, losers in this stunning deal, Cousins rips Harden for 'disrespectful' antics, comments Tuesday that Houston isn't "good enough", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2 and sent Harden to Brooklyn. ", Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league's two-time reigning MVP, said the trade is "an amazing move by Brooklyn.". Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. I mean, this situation is crazy. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Harden 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, as part of a package for Celtics-76ers first look - What could decide the battle of Eastern Copyright 2008-2023 BroBible. The Brooklyn Nets are on pace for some record-breaking numbers following the acquisition of James Harden. James Hardens sixth sense: What makes playmaking critical to the Sixers stars game. Just not in the way he thinks. Nets Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. [ April 23, 2023 ] How Nikola Jokics Nuggets Took 3-0 Lead Over Timberwolves Denver Nuggets [ April 22, 2023 ] How Jalen Brunsons Knicks Made Light Work Of Cavs In Game 3 Cavaliers News [ April 22, 2023 ] How Trae Youngs Hawks Bounced Back vs. Celtics In Game 3 Atlanta Hawks [ April 22, 2023 ] Grizzlies Land June 15, 2021 In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Irving goes down with an ankle sprain that would ultimately hold him out of the remainder of the series. But, as we know, sports despite how the analytics nerds may try (and are largely very successful at because analytics are the future of sports, I get it) arent a purely binary, data-driven prospect. (And when I say someone like Bradley Beal, I mean Bradley Beal). Nets trades: Everything they got back for Durant, Irving, From where things stand in 2021, this is as much a move as a message; Harden is worth this kind of haul on his own merits, but even more to a franchise that is building a bond with Durant it hopes will last far beyond his current contract. The rest is negotiableincluding, it seems, the next seven years of draft equity, which is what the Nets paid for James Harden. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports. OFFICIAL: The Brooklyn Nets have acquired six-time All-NBA first teamer and eight-time NBA All-Star James Harden.https://t.co/tkh5dCKi5F, Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 14, 2021, Sources: Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets via @ESPN App https://t.co/oRRwHi2JBv, Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021. As Lukas Matsson closes in on the acquisition of Waystar, Kendall pitches a revolutionary product: fancy retirement homes? "My big ass foot stepped on the line. Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday. "James has provided us with so many great memories as we've watched him grow from Sixth Man of the Year to a perennial All-Star and MVP. But for a young dude looking to play a featured role and establish himself in the league, Sexland might not be such a bad place. He hasnt been able to recapture that form at all and has struggled mightily this year. 6 in win shares. I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. Something went wrong. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. NBA NBA playoffs: Who do the Sixers play next in the second round? Durant, who scored 26 points in the Nets' 116-109 win over the Knicks on Wednesday, is averaging 29.4 points through nine games in his first season back from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. The picks are a soothing balm for the mess of the past few months, but they are still unknown quantities in the wake of losing the face of the franchise. It would ultimately be his last game as a Net. Durant is averaging 29.9 points in his first season back from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Irving was scoring 27.1 per game before leaving the team last week. "Adding an All-NBA player such as James to our roster better positions our team to compete against the league's best," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. Brooklyn Nets timeline: What went wrong leading to trade and breakup of James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving. During this time, Brooklyn's losing streak balloons from six to nine straight games. Cookie Notice Power Rankings Notebook: Impact of Harden trade, 2020-21 Trade Tracker: Every official trade, Series preview: What to expect in Warriors-Lakers, 5 takeaways from Warriors' Game 7 victory, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win over Knicks, Curry sets Game 7 record with 50 points vs. Kings, Brooks fined $25K for violating interview rules. James Harden's 2s. April 5, 2021 One game before Durant's return, Harden reaggravates a hamstring issue, ultimately sidelining him for 18 games over five weeks. They may have lost the game there, but in all likelihood, would have won it in regulation were it not for the heroics of James Harden. A timeline of events shows that the writing may have been on the wall well before anyone on the outside may have realized. Bridges attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, then played three seasons at Villanova. However, having no defense is not going to work for an entire playoff run. Remember, Harden is making $40.8 million this season and $43.8 million next season, and he even holds a $46.9 million option for 2022-23. It's the team's first sweep in a best-of-seven series since they knocked out the Bucks in the conference semifinals in 1985, Barkley's rookie year. Philly got it done even without a vintage effort from Embiid. Thats a departure from his predecessors usual line of thinking. The Nets and Rockets announced the trade Thursday morning. I mean, Harden had DeMarcus Cousins calling him out for his lack of professionalism, for crying out loud. Your email address will not be published. But Id rather miss shots and win. That Simmonss confused and listless showing happened the same night Joel Embiid decided to film his MVP sizzle reel was all the more telling. The superstar era is over in Brooklyn. Harden Hes confident in how we play now, coach Doc Rivers said. Before the Nets are feted as Finals favorites, lets remember that Harden falls squarely in the be-careful-what-you-wish-for zone. Rob Mahoney: When you already have a team built around one of the best basketball players in existence in Kevin Durant, the only thing that really matters is today. Brooklyns Seth Curry scored 10 points in his family reunion against his father-in-law, Rivers. The Sixers had a sellout crowd of 20,913 in a frenzy from the opening tip, then blew the game open in the fourth. Harden used every move in the disgruntled superstar handbook, from delaying his training camp arrival to going on a very public gentlemans club world tour to sandbagging teammates and his new head coach to showing up out of shape to then somehow remaining out of shape despite playing a professional sport. His contributions might not matter as much as they would have on a sure playoff team like the Pacers, but a good showing this season could still be enough to get him paid. Nets