The Boston Celtics could make history as part of the greatest godfather trade ever assembled. Join the Houdini as we embark on a wild trade ride that lands Harden in Philadelphia and a better roster in Beantown.
It’s been #TradeSZN here at Hardwood Houdini since the Boston Celtics bowed out of the Lake Buena Vista bubble from Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex at the hands of the eventual Eastern Conference kingpin Miami Heat.
Almost daily, we have been cooking up deals to satisfy several trade itches based on recent rumors from the NBA’s famed 24/7-365 news cycle. I personally love sniffing around other franchise rumor mills too, because–as a pragmatic man–I want synergies to be explored and deals to be made.
The hottest rumor from the press right now is one that intertwines the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent acquisition of Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets’ apparent desire to tear down their roster in an effort to rebuild:
"Philadelphia could be one of several teams calling about the Houston Rockets guard, although his current team isn’t expected to agree to any deal. “It is an emphatic no from the Rockets side,” Charania said. “It’s really a nonstarter for that organization.” Harden is owed $85.7 million over the next two seasons and then has a $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season."
It seems unlikely based on Charania’s report that a deal could be done, but things change quickly in this league. Harden was traded in a shocker seven years ago, and history seems likely to repeat itself given that Houston’s all-in effort to build a contender around the “Beard” and Russell Westbrook fell flat on its face.
The Houdini also believes the Rockets front office would change its tune if it got a gander at this 4-team megadeal:
The trade
This deal is so big, our trade graphic can’t even hold it! In an ode to the Dwight Howard deal of 2012, James Harden’s departure from the very place he and “Superman” created memorable memories–like having Damian Lillard drain the game-winning 3-pointer in his second year in the league to send Houston home in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals–is also a four-team whopper of a deal.
Without further ado:
"Boston Celtics get: Robert Covington, Elfrid Payton, Ben McLemore, Wayne Ellington, 2020 New York Knicks first-round pick Philadelphia 76ers get: James Harden, Gordon Hayward, Vincent Poirier, Carsen Edwards, Austin Rivers New York Knicks get: Russell Westbrook, Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson, Danuel House, Shake Milton Houston Rockets get: Al Horford, Julius Randle, Kevin Knox, Romeo Langford, Matisse Thybull, Taj Gibson, Mike Scott, 2020 Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick, 2020 Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick, 2020 Boston Celtics first-round pick, 2022 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick, 2024 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick, 2026 Philadelphia 76ers first-round pick, Philadelphia 76ers pick swaps in 2023, 2025, and 2027."
Needless to say, this blockbuster accomplishes goals for every franchise involved. With several superstars and close to $300 million salaries flying being rerouted every which way, the Houdini has put together the biggest fake trade in NBA history.
Why each team does it
When a deal this big goes down, there needs to be serious justification for each franchise as to how and why they decided to entangle in such a seismic roster shake-up.
Here’s why the Houdini feels compelled to ask: who says no?
Why the Boston Celtics do it
Gordon Hayward may want out of Beantown. Fans should no longer view him as a potential title-winning piece and need to start viewing him as a trade asset. What is the best package he can net?
We’re not sure, but bringing in a win-now floor-spacing modern combo-big in Robert Covington, a Rajon Rondo-lite in Elfrid Payton (hat-tip to my coeditor Mark Nilon on the comparison), a 40 percent 3-point sniper in Ben McLemore, a 38 percent career 3-point shooter in Wayne Ellington and a 3-1 pick swap to get into the top 10 has to be up there.
Why the Philadelphia 76ers do it
The third star in any trio with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid has to be a 3-point shooter who can create his own offense. Who in the league does that better than James Harden? While he and Simmons will have growing pains together, the Kobe-Shaq comparisons for a Harden-Embiid pick-and-roll will inevitably form.
Oh, and getting rid of the albatross contracts of Al Horford and Tobias Harris to acquire him–and taking on the do-it-all role-playing Gordon Hayward as a bonus–is worth mortgaging the future on a title for in the next several years.
New head coach Doc Rivers also gets to coach his son again and Carsen Edwards and Vincent Poirier find themselves on a barren roster with possible opportunity.
Why the New York Knicks do it
For years, the New York Knicks have been chasing big-name free agents, and have even tried to get an inside track on several locally-born talents like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. All of their plans have failed miserably and somewhat hilariously.
This deal brings them their marquee name in Russell Westbrook, a Long Island product in Tobias Harris, a lockdown defender and potential Tom Thibadeau fit in Josh Richardson, a nobody-to-postseason-starter Shake Milton, and bubble quarantine highlight Danuel House, who seems like a perfect journalistic fit for Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Why the Houston Rockets do it
The writing is so clearly on the wall in Houston after Daryl Morey skipped town: this team is set to rebuild. Trading James Harden and Russell Westbrook is a must and any veteran that wasn’t dealt in this scenario (P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon spring to mind) should also have his roster space cleared for a younger player for the long rebuild ahead.
Romeo Langford, Matisse Thybull, and Kevin Knox headline the return from a player perspective, and Al Horford and Julius Randle may be able to shock some teams as a versatile frontcourt. The true story here is the six first-round picks and several pick swaps that the Rockets would acquire for letting go of their core.