NBA: Seven Teams That Nearly Traded For James Harden In 2012

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Mar 11, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) drives to the hoop against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics

Many of you will remember the 2011 trade that sent Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City in exchange for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. It was the trade that helped the Thunder reach the NBA Finals a year later under the veteran tutelage of Perkins.

Now would you believe me if I told you that that very same deal centered around Jeff Green was originally centered around James Harden?

According to Bill Simmons, the Harden for Perkins swap was in the works until Presti convinced Boston GM Danny Ainge to accept Green instead. Ainge was desperate to move Perkins so he agreed.

Since Brad Stevens has arrived in town, everyone’s been talking about how the Celtics are just one superstar away from contention. Just imagine if Harden was on this current Boston roster….

You can stop drooling now Celtics fans.

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