Rockets All-Star guard James Harden, the talk of this young 2020/21 season for a variety of reasons, has expanded his wish list of NBA trade destinations to include the Trail Blazers and Celtics, according to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of the Athletic.
The Nets, Sixers, Heat and Bucks were the four teams Harden has previously identified as preferred landing spots. The Heat have reportedly paused cursory talks surrounding a Harden trade, apparently balking at the Rockets’ asking price. The Bucks are also not expected to pursue Harden.
Finding salaries to match Harden’s in a trade is no small feat. The 31-year-old has two guaranteed years remaining on his current max contract, and holds a $47.4MM player option for the 2022/23 season.
The Trail Blazers, led by All-Star point guard Damian Lillard and talented shooting guard C.J. McCollum, impressed during their run to the 2019 Western Conference Finals. Though he has yet to make an All-Star team, the 29-year-old McCollum could be the kind of high-level scoring target around which Portland could begin build a trade. Last season, with Lillard clearly the focal point of Portland’s offense, McCollum averaged 22.2 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.2 RPG, 0.8 SPF and 0.6 BPG while posting a shooting line of .451/.379/.757.
The Celtics have appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals for three of the last four seasons. All-Star forward Jayson Tatum is almost certainly untouchable in any Harden deal, but versatile 24-year-old forward Jaylen Brown, who has emerged as a two-way force, might appeal to Houston.
Iko and Amick note that the Rockets have talked with teams that are not on Harden’s list of preferred landing spots. The Nuggets are among this group. Denver has not made star guard Jamal Murray available in trade discussions yet, though the Rockets remain intrigued by second-year forward Michael Porter Jr.
McCollum and Zach Collins
Future Draft picks
Brown and Smart
Future Draft picks
It’s required for Harden to sign two year extension
Celtics TPE for Tucker
Blazers offer 2 Firsts
Celtics offer 2 Seconds
At this point if Portland was to offer that I’d take it and run. McCollum is a quality player . Not a superstar but very quality . Collins if can stay healthy is descent enough. Lillard and harden back court is lethal . Fans probably will see this as a steal for Portland but at this point I would take it and run
They both need the ball in their hands. I think they get worse with Harden instead of McCollum
Agreed
Agreed
Harden is other Verizon of Toronto maple leafs it doesn’t matter how many supper stars you have in team he will not win title for any team I can give you in writing any time day
McCollum is 29 yrs old. Article says he’s 23. I was like (wow didn’t think he was that young). Had to look it up.
DOB 9/19/91 …. Lillard Doesn’t need Harden. It would never work.
Heh, I thought the same thing. I was like…23? Man I was way off on what is going on with the Blazers…
This guy is a cancer.
McCollum alone is better to have than Harden and his baggage.
BROOKLYN
It would take Brown and Smart from the Celtics I imagine. That’s a hard no. If I were Ainge I would possibly do it for Robert Williams, the corpse of Tommy Heinsohn, and 100 dollars worth of Applebee’s gift certificates.
Brown and Smart, plus 2 or 3 first round picks.
I mean, maybe. It doesn’t matter because no way it’s happening.
No thanks.
2 or 3 1sts? I think your dreaming. Harden’s value is tanking.
You are way overvaluing harden.. I wouldn’t even do it brown for harden.. harden is older and big cap hit.. brown is a stud 2 way player.. walker and 1 pick would be the max of his worth and walker has bad knees
Harden is hardly better than Irving, who abused his contract with two years left. The Cavs got useless things that had to be traded again, and a high first short scoring guard.
Houston fans will be disappointed unless someone bails them out.
Tommy Heinsohn’s corpse has some value as a tourist draw, so no, not even then.
they still use gift certificates?
Make it a video of Tommy’s Lite Beer commercial and throw in an Acie Earl autographed ball and it’s a deal.
that’ll work. lol
Trade him to Siberia….Yet another of his ME ME ME ME ME attitude. Selfish player who will never help a team to a title.
I agree, any team that takes him will soon regret it
Celtics looked like they need some outside shooting. But their play style requires a little more defense than Harden provides.
Portland has been willing to break up the backcourt for a while now, but Dame and Harden are both ball dominant players and that hasn’t worked in the past.
Yet Portland may have the impetus to go all in while they can. McCollum + would be a decent return albeit not very flashy.
My guess is he goes to Philly for Curry, another fringe player and a couple of picks. Or to Boston for same, substitute Smart for Curry. Don’t think Brooklyn would mess with their chemistry or take on his salary.
Those trades don’t make any sense… how are either the 76ers or Celtics covering his massive salary by sending out only 1 player!?! — for the C’s they HAVE to include Brown to match salaries (or Tatum and that’s not happening) — so with that in mind I say no way the Celtics should do that. Maybe if Harden were 5 years younger — or if he just wasn’t acting like such an a-hole I’d consider it. But giving up Brown, Smart and picks for a guy who’s acting like such a baby just seems like a terrible idea.
Celtics have that massive trade exemption from the GH deal… Not sure how that works with the CBA and packaging it with other assets though. As a long time C’s fan, I hope it doesn’t happen, but I believe that they could pull it off.
They can use it. Worth 28 mill towards Harden contract. Dude you don’t need Harden. Celtics are fine. Just add a rim protector like Dedmond.
The trade exception probably doesn’t help the Celtics in this situation. You can only trade for a player if their salary is less than the TE and it can’t be combined with any other assets to make up for differences.
The only way it could be used is in a three team scenario. The Celtics would trade for a player from another team using the TE and then package that player with other assets to trade for Harden.
I don’t think this would be feasible so early in the season because no team is looking to shed a player/salary.
Got it. Thought you could combine it. They could fit Horford there. Celts need a big don’t need Harden.
James Harden for SETH Curry???
Have another eggnog pal…I hope youre 1/2 in the bag
Lol
CJ McCollum, ZCollins, Trent Jr, Nas Little, 2 first round picks and a pick swap for Harden and Tucker.
1. Lillard. Simons
2. Harden. Hood
3. Covington. Jones Jr
4. Tucker. Melo
5. Nurkic. Kanter. Giles
Blazers to finish second seed
Great return for the Rockets, 3 young players 2 first round picks and an almost all star level talent.
Gives them flexibility to either continue trying to win with Wall McCollum Wood and Cousins or can flip assets for more picks and young players
Harden will be a detriment to any contender. If a given team already has a competitive core, Harden would disrupt it. He is not much of a team player. He needs to control the ball.
Stat chasers Harden and Westbrook belong on mids teams that cant get over the hump due to them being numbers only guys to begin with.
I don’t know that Blazers team is really dependent on Lillard and McCollum the same way the Rockets depended on Harden.
Harden has only got this toxic culture nonsense talk after it was made public that he basic controlled when the team trained and that he could party whenever. I think his want to win is very high and that on a fresh team like the Blazers with Lillard the leader he would know that his job is to be the sidekick but probably lead in scoring.
Jimmy Butler use to have the same criticism from people but now look at him in Miami playing that leader role but allowing Adebayo to be the “focal point” or whatever he calls it. Butler is by far the loudest and scores the most but he’s fitted in amazingly as a second leader and main scorer.
Harden in Portland could do a similar thing under Lillard. On the court how would you stop Harden and Lillards shooting, while not double teaming and leaving the corners open for Tucker and Covington or the paint for Nurkic.
Plus defensively you’d have Tucker and Covington really nice defenders and off the bench Jones Jr and Hood both good defenders.
Blazers would be amazing
Butler is harsh & independent and was getting the shaft in MIN, and wound up in just the right spot.
Harden wants other people to polish his silver spoons, and his fate is not determined yet. Portland would also be a lucky ending. It would be funny if he drove off Lilliard too!
Why’s he giving a wish list he has no choice where he goes!
Bc look at how he’s acting right now….you think that’s gonna change if they trade him to Charlotte? No team is going to give up the farm for a 2 year old who throws temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.
Thats not true. Teams looking to trade for him will ultimately do so to keep him longer than his current deal. If he gets traded to a team he doesn’t want to go to he won’t sign a deal. No deal = no trade. Unfortunately for Harden Philly and Brooklyn have already gotten a taste of what they can achieve this season. There’s no chance Boston jeopardizes what they having brewing. Portland would be the most likely destination but Lillard has an attachment to CJ so that looks like just as much of a dead end. Harden is staying put
I would rather give up not so much as Houston wants to get him, and only count on the two or three years.
NBA teams are now cringing in fear that Harden is going to add them to their list.
Think he throws clippers and lakers on there?
I’d do kuzma, kcp and schroder and a couple seconds.
Would clippers do pg plus for harden?
Screw that. I wouldn’t want Harden on the Lakers for free. I felt the same way when the notion of Irving to the Lakers as a free agent was being thrown around.
Not that a trade like that would work, anyway, given Harden’s contract. Nevertheless…keep that fool away.
Hypothetically, the Clippers would make more sense, simply because they don’t seem to have much chemistry to begin with, so there isn’t much Harden could destroy, anyway. He won’t be going there, either, though.
lol, the headline here could be viewed as a threat!
Rockets fans like Jaylen Brown over Simmons
It seems that 76ers don’t have enough assets to make bid
They should keep Horford
Without Harden 76ers are unlikely to beat Top 4 teams in the East
Harden
Tucker
Covington
Nurkic
Lillard
Blazers would be better than Lakers and Clippers
Lakers and Clippers have no future picks and hard capped
Kanter is young and good
Blazers would not improve with Harden. He would only destroy their chemistry and would not fit well with Lillard. He couldn’t even coexist with Chris Paul, and Paul doesn’t dominate the ball like Lillard does. I can’t see Harden fitting on any team that is not his team, and the Blazers would not be his team as long as Lillard is there.
Blazers kind of a joke tbh. You think dame wouldn’t appreciate a little help? Dude is playing for a ring not a 2k cover
Horford plays for OKC
lmao
Clueless Sillivan, distributing advice from hazy daydreams. Possibly never reads some of his posts or their responses.
Brown over Simmons? Do they have rocks in their heads?
I’d rather see Harden in Portland… Celtics have enough players, if they can’t get to the finals that’s on them. Dame needs that go two guy to help propel this blazers team…
Blazers won’t want him coming in and ruining their chemistry they got a team now.
I don’t see Boston doing it, Ainge wants picks only…
Send the beard to Sac Town, Chi town or ATL…
Sac would do it their front office is stupid enough
It’s going to be so funny when Harden goes to Golden State and finally wins a chip with Steph.
There is not enough strip clubs for Harden in the bay area. Houston would want Wiseman in the deal. Wiseman is the next AD or Greek so no way should warriors trade him away.
My wishlist consists of James Harden getting over himself.
Next week he’ll be begging to be traded to anyone.
I worry he only adds two a week and this gets dragged out.
I’m a Celtics fan and I’d rather just die.
I’m with you. Hell no to Harden.
One would think the Celtics learned their lesson with Irving. I doubt they would ruin their chemistry by trading for Harden.
His Wishlist better contain the Knicks, Kings, Cavs, Magic, Hornets…he’s torpedoed his own value to the point HOU just needs to get whatever it can from any team and move on from this pathetic excuse of a man.
Magic is 1-0 bro, going places….special
Steve Clifford won’t want him he doesn’t play D
He has to go to a team that has a bunch of good players but no one that wants to be the ball dominant. It’s the only way I can see it work. Surrounded by unselfish players.
I don’t want him in Charlotte! I don’t care if Houston gave him away for free!
It has to add 4 more new teams then start to make bid
Rumors added Siakam and/or VanVleet for Harden and Tucker
Raptors also attach draft picks
Warriors have Wiseman and Wolves pick to make bid
Hawks have Collins and draft picks to make bid
I guess every time Harden sees a team or two isn’t interested, he’ll add onto his list.
Exactly. Until there are 29 teams on his list.
If it comes down to it, he may branch out and add the Yankees and Chiefs to his list.
The Yankees have a no beard policy, so those branches better keep growing. Ha ha
CJ is not 23 years old! he is at least 30 years old
Ya that stood out. He’s 29.
GSW. Wiggins Pascal Wiseman Wolves pick.
Internet gms smh. I mean really? If they took Wiggins paschall and wolves pick then ok
I hope Harden doesn’t put the SASpurs on his list … we don’t want him.
Nobody wants Har en. It’s funny. Worst virus in NBA.
The Nets are now lowering their offer. Bulls got young talent. Markkanen wasn’t resigned. Add LaVine plus picks. I do it. Rockets get young and good quick. Send LaVine to Knicks for more picks.
No way Bulls do that. Why don’t the Knicks send their whole team to HOU for Harden?
Dude as a fellow Knicks fan let me tell you one thing: You don’t know a dam thing. No one wants Harden? Guy averaged 35 points a dam game last year? No one wants that?
Do yourself a favor – stick to analyses of Elfrid Payton
Well said …surfer69!
Everyone wants Harden, what no one wants is the delusional HOU team asking price, like if they had any leverage or right to ask that much!
Dude, if as many teams as you claim want Harden, then yes, they do have the right to ask that for that much because it’s like a competition. Let’s say hypothetically both the Celtics and Miami both offer a good trade proposal for Harden. Well, why would they accept Miami’s offfer over Boston’s or Boston’s over Miami’s? The better the return is, the more incentive Houston has to accept it. Of course, they shouldn’t just wait around for a luxurous package and teams may want to see how their season is going first before they trade for Harden. Harden staying long term can have negative effects on the team. With that being said, they are right to demand such an asking price, but lower it a bit (just to a tyler herro and a draft pick or something instead of a Herro-type and 3) and a deal could get done.
Have hope T-wolves fans he will get to you by the end of January.
Eventually Harden is going to say, I will ok a trade to any team. He has to get out of this situation now, the longer he stays in limbo the worse it is for him reputation-wise and career-wise.
If he really thinks he is such a terrific player, he should be able to make any team markedly better. Oh, and he’s getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to come to work every day and quit complaining.
Can you tell I am pretty sick of Harden at this point?
Alternately, he could offer a buyout option to the Rockets and then go play wherever the hell he wants for the vet min, if it really is all about winning.
Still say Nets have or had best offer. Rockets could even send Dinwiddie to Knicks, thank you.
Sixers offer Harris. I’m Houston I jump on that.
Harris, Maxey, and picks. I take it and move on. This is a better team than with the Cancer. Maxey will be a player. Then you trade into lottery next yr, or tank. The lottery will have at least 6-8 future stars. Forget that cancer move on. Please get it over with. I want to talk ball not where The Virus is going.
If only you knew anything at all ’bout ball to talk… keep on dreaming kid!
Brown + Romeo + 1st + 2nd
I would do that if I were Dan
A big no…. To the Celtics….. They need a banger up front….
Cue the “Harden if the Blazers give up Dame and 3 1sts” comment from genius.
Cry baby Harden wants and all his money at the same time. Trade him to Cleveland and see how he likes it.
Cavs will make the playoffs without him.
Tell Fatty Harden to cram it.
His wishlist should include a pacifier
Celtics would have to trade at least Smaaaht to make the money work and with JT, JB and Kemba there wouldn’t be enough mouths to feed. I would consider Walker, a first and part of the TPE for harden and that’s it.
Harden is high as a kite. Send his ass to Charlotte or NOLA!
Celtics DON’T do it!
I think he ends up in Portland. He goes back to his youth with Neil Olshey. IMO McCollum would be the best player any of the other teams could offer up. And I think Houston would be better with a McCollum/Wall back court.
Harden’s list isn’t what really matters. It’s what teams believe they will instantly become a championship contender by trading for him. Nobody else is going to give up much to get him, or shouldn’t anyway.
Boston won’t do a deal that includes Brown or Tatum as a piece. Ainge isn’t that kind of aggressive deal maker, and, in this case, that’s good thing. I could see Walker, some younger bench pieces (Nesmith / Williams) and a few 1st round picks (light protection).
Blazers might be a possibility if they see Harden fitting with Lillard, despite the way the CP3 and RW combos ended.
@DXC I agree with you. I don’t think Fame is nearly as ball dependent as Paul or Wes. Plus I think McCollum is a great fit in Houston
Whoa, that escalated in a hurry.
At this rate, James Harden is going to have every team in North America excluding the Washington Generals on his wish list.
The Hawks are a sleeper team. They have enough varying salaries and young players. They also rival any other cities night life. Only Miami and Houston strip club’s can even get close to comparing.
BOS seems by far the best fit for him just now, if only Ainge had the cojones to do it… oh well, BOS can wait another 20/30 years to win, right?
#FreeTheBeard
I hope the Rockets hold on until Harden expands his wish list to all 30 teams.
I hope the Rockets hold on until Harden expands his wish list to all 30 teams.
MJ will finally bailout Harhead by then houston will gladly take whatever is offered. Harder gets to party with MJ and play his me me me ball….
The best trade is send him to the Pizards for that jew dude from that country with manor humanitarian issues and trumps sun baron and mayor bowser or whatever her name is dc likes bullschit its full of it drive down 295 you’ll see exactly what im smelling you all plus it will confuse professor westbrook…. I left the water running ladies
A miniature manor epic.
Because is spelled bc
Celtics had a scoring machine in Hayward and wasted him. Harden would never fit Brad’s system and James would cry to the media within a week.
The thing is the celtics should have enough to win, they don’t need Harden. If Tatum,Kemba,Brown,Smart can’t make the finals within 3 years they are overrated…
Andrew Wiggins for James Harden
Celtics have the assets. Not sure jimmy is what they need to win title. They do need healthy Kemba. If they think his knees are shot….they might dump him to Houston.
So the celtics still need more? Wow.
Harden is a cancer! As a Celtics fan I wouldn’t trade a dirty towel for him. what has his team ever won?
AINGE DONT YOU DARE
All teams need to stay away from this loser