The Houdini is taking a stand and will not condone a James Harden trade that involves Jaylen Brown. This is the only trade package we’d consider for the “Beard.”
While some may lambast me for writing about a James Harden trade, I got bad news for you scruges: the Boston Celtics have been added to the list of preferred trade destinations.
I’m not going to stop until Harden is occupying Boston strip clubs (post-vaccine of course) or he is playing alongside a new co-star like Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, or Joel Embiid.
The latest intel on a potential blockbuster involving the “Beard” in Beantown involves Jaylen Brown…and that is simply a non-starter around these parts.
Instead, the Houdini would love to arrange a way for the team to bring on the 3x reigning scoring champion while allowing the team to keep their two superstars in Brown and Jayson Tatum. In fact…we did just that:
Why the Boston Celtics do it
Not only would the Cs be taking on the league’s most dominant superstar, but a trio of role players that have historically excelled around Harden would be coming with. P.J. Tucker, Danuel House, and Ben McLemore are all more reliable 3-point shooters than the role players Danny Ainge has collected throughout the last few offseasons.
Why the Houston Rockets do it
This package is headlined by a max contract point guard, which the Rockets already have with John Wall. Kemba Walker has shown the ability to play off-ball, though, and his effectiveness shouldn’t be affected by sharing the rock with Wall.
Marcus Smart is the best asset in this deal, making under $14 million over the next two seasons. Grant Williams and Romeo Langford are two high-upside draft picks from 2019, while Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith could prove to be assets as well.
The Rockets would do well to add two draft picks to their depleted draft cupboards.