NBA Trade Rumors: 4 dark horse landing spots for James Harden

Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni and James Harden (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni and James Harden (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
Miami Heat president Pat Riley (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat might be the biggest dark horse to crash the James Harden sweepstakes. Not because they have the best assets on this list of teams, but because this team has shown in the past that it isn’t afraid to take a big chance in the trade market. Miami has traded for disgruntled stars before, and it’s actually worked out quite well.

The Heat is coming off a trip to the NBA Finals and could make the case for being a James Harden away from winning a championship, depending on what they’d have to give up in a hypothetical trade. Though, you’d have to expect that Tyler Herro would be the starting point of any deal.

A core of Jimmy Butler, James Harden, and Bam Adebayo would be more than enough to win a championship. Question is, would the Heat be willing to make this deal if they still believe they have a shot at landing Giannis Antetokounmpo during the free agency period of 2021?

As great as James Harden is, I’m not so sure that’s a foregone conclusion for the Miami Heat or any other team on this list.