Houston Rockets: The big winners of the James Harden trade

The Houston Rockets won big in the James Harden trade

James Harden got his wish finally as the Houston Rockets traded their superstar after he publicly expressed his displeasure with the direction the team appeared to be headed. Harden will be reunited with former teammate Kevin Durant as a member of the Brooklyn Nets.

This trade automatically makes the Nets the favorites to win the East and reach the NBA Finals. The offensive firepower the Nets just acquired in Harden will be a difficult task for any team to defend, especially if and when Kyrie Irving decides to return to the team.

The Nets got the player they coveted in Harden, but three other teams were involved in the transaction as well. The Nets agreed to send Caris LeVert to the Rockets as the Rockets then sent LeVert to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo.

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The Nets also sent Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On top of that, the Rockets also get Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, and four first-round draft picks. When the details of this trade are examined, it appears as if the Nets got the best deal by acquiring Harden and forming their own version of a “Big 3.”

While this all sounds good and looks great on paper, I truly believe that the Rockets received the better end of this deal, and here’s why. You give up your best player who’s a superstar, but as nature has it, everything runs its course and it was due time for Harden to leave Houston. The Rockets accommodated him with every request he made and tried to ensure he had all he needed to be successful.

They also rewarded him with a super-max contract and basically gave him the keys to the franchise. Harden makes it seem like he wasn’t appreciated for his efforts while in Houston, but it appears to be the opposite. Looking at the bright side, the Rockets truly gained more than they lost. With Oladipo, they are bringing in a quality all-star caliber player who when healthy is one of the most versatile players in the NBA.

He may not be able to score as Harden does, but he can definitely hold his own on the offensive end. He may not drop 35 points a game but he will get you a solid 20-24 points and maybe even 30 on a good night. Another plus to the Rockets getting Oladipo is that he is a much better defender than Harden, so at least they upgraded in that area. He is also a very good spot-up shooter who can also create off the dribble, shoot the 3, and also create plays for others.

Oladipo can also attack the paint and is a vertical threat with amazing athleticism. He should fit right into the Rockets backcourt alongside John Wall and form what should be one of the most underrated backcourt duos in the league.

This Rockets team also still has quality depth with Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker who are good shooters and either one could start if needed or come off the bench as offensive threats or play defense as both are capable of playing multiple positions. They also have big men DeMarcus Cousins and Christian Wood in the frontcourt who have had success and are experienced players, so it isn’t like the Rockets are starting from scratch or having to construct a rebuild.

They also receive the four draft picks which should make up for the ones they gave away after acquiring Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. And finally, new head coach Stephen Silas can focus on getting the Rockets on the right track instead of having to deal with the debacle and headache Harden was causing.

The Rockets will eventually end up being the winners of this trade because they still have a team that is capable of competing this year and can continue to add key pieces moving forward with the draft picks they accumulated. Harden on the other hand must win a championship with the Nets to silence his critics. Otherwise, this will be viewed as an epic failure on his behalf.