The Best of the Day: January 13th, 2021

Brooklyn Nets acquired SG James Harden in a blockbuster 4-team trade

For Brooklyn: 

When a team is able to add a MVP, 3x scoring champion, and 8x All-Star, they usually do whatever it takes. That’s exactly what Brooklyn did as they showed desperation in the wake of Kyrie Irving’s recent absence that could turn into a disaster if he retired early. Now that they have another all-time great on their roster, that will surely convince their best player Kevin Durant to re-sign once he can opt out after next season. The question will be how do they fit these pieces together and can they surround them with enough defensive talent to overcome this trio’s shortcomings on that side of the ball. 

There’s no doubt this is the greatest scoring trio ever assembled, but there’s only one ball for three of the greatest iso scorers to all share. It will be a challenge for rookie HC Steve Nash, one of the greatest passers of all-time, to figure out the best possible way for these three superstars to sacrifice touches and work together, especially considering Harden, Durant, and Irving all rank in the top 20 on the all-time leaderboard for usage percentage.

All three do have experience playing with other superstars in their primes, though. Durant won two titles in GS, Irving won one in CLE alongside LeBron, and Harden could have knocked off Durant’s Warriors in the WCF if not for Chris Paul’s injury. Big 3’s aren’t unprecedented either. There have been multiple “super teams” put together with varying levels of success, and none of those trios, even the Heat or Warriors, had this level of pure, individual offensive talent. It’s championship or bust for Brooklyn, who mortgaged their future by shipping out 1st Rd picks and young talent, but a title for a starved organization would be well worth the cost.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKAEhZSlvqY/

For Houston: 

Along with the Thunder, nobody has more draft picks to look forward to in the 2020s than Houston now after pulling off the largest haul of draft picks in NBA history. When the smoke settled, Houston received three 1st Rd picks from Brooklyn (2022, 2024, 2026), one 1st Rd pick from Milwaukee (2022), and four Brooklyn 1st Rd pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027). The Rockets also got Victor Oladipo from the Pacers, Dante Exum from the Cavaliers, and Rodions Kurucs from the Nets.

In Oladipo, Houston will be able to pair him with a reinvigorated John Wall to potentially form one of the more underrated backcourts in the NBA. In a contract year, the Rockets could also flip Oladipo before the trade deadline, or decide to sign him long-term depending on how he fits in. Fliers on Exum and Kurucs are just icing on top. After having no direction and a dark cloud hanging over the organization, the future for Houston is suddenly as bright as it’s ever been. Regardless of what happens this season, the Rockets received a kings ransom for their disgruntled superstar that can set them up with a prosperous future thanks to a plethora of picks.

Full details on the Houston #Rockets James Harden trade to the Brooklyn #Nets that includes Victor Oladipo, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and a plethora of 1st Round Picks in a blockbuster deal https://t.co/9c5EiciqDs

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 13, 2021

For Indiana: 

On an expiring contract, it was looking unlikely that Victor Oladipo was going to re-sign in Indiana in a few months, so the Pacers were able to trade the 2x All-Star for 26-year-old SG Caris LeVert, who’s just scratching the surface on his offensive potential. Playing alongside Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner will provide great opportunities for LeVert to use his elite quickness to blow by defenders and make plays. LeVert improved his play every season in Brooklyn, and was averaging a career-high 6.0 AST along with 18.5 PTS this season prior to coming over to Indiana.

The Pacers are 7-4.

Sabonis is averaging 22/13/6 on 56% shooting.

Brogdon is averaging 23/4/8 on 47/45/88 shooting.

They just got Caris LeVert who is averaging 29/5/8 in 4 starts this season. pic.twitter.com/qSBFYZ8PV4

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 13, 2021

For Cleveland: 

Cleveland having Dante Exum on an overpriced $9.6M salary actually turned into a blessing in disguise as it allowed them to play salary matchmaker in the deal to help offset the difference between the Nets and Rockets’ packages. CLE was able to offload Exum and a 2022 Bucks 1st Rd Pick (which lost significant value once they re-signed Giannis) and gained one of the most promising defensive anchors in the entire league in Jarrett Allen. Allen is on an expiring contract so he’ll be due a raise in short order, but he gives them exactly what Drummond does with plenty more upside at only 22 years old. 

Welcome to The Land, @_bigjayy_ and @taureanprince! 💪 pic.twitter.com/0a5Zmmq9iW

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 14, 2021

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