What James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets Could Look Like
NBA offseason trades are in full swing right now, as we have seen multiple deals happen these past few weeks. Along with the deals, many rumors are going around, most notably being a trade for the Houston Rockets eight time All-Star, James Harden. Several teams could be in the running for Harden; however, the Brooklyn Nets seem to be leading the pack of destinations. This may or may not be the best move for Brooklyn, so in that case, what would James Harden as a Net look like?
Like him or not, it’s impossible to deny the fact that James Harden is one of the best basketball players in the world. He’s won a Most Valuable Player, been an eight time All-Star, six time ALL-NBA First Team, and a three time NBA Scoring Champion, just to name a few of his accolades.
Even though he has all of these accomplishments, Harden still happens to be one of the most hated players in the league. He is somewhat a lazy defender, and whenever someone even touches him he will act like it’s a hard foul. What he is most hated for though, is not being a team player. He is a so called “ball hog,” as when he takes the ball up the court, he will either drive for a lay-up himself, or step back for a three pointer, rarely passing the ball.
The Nets stars as of now are Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Both of these players are controversial themselves, even though they are some of the best to ever play the game. These two have not played a single game together yet (due to injuries); however, they seem as if they will perform very well. Durant can be the leader as he is possibly the greatest scorer of all time, while Irving continues his greatness as an all around player. Both these stars can lockdown on defense as well.
Now, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on paper look like championship superteam; however, Harden’s “Ball Hog” antics could throw a wrench in the team’s chemistry. If Harden had the ball, he would most likely do his usual drive for a lay-up or step back three, leaving Durant and Irving doing nothing but shaking their heads. When one of them does touch the ball, they’ll most likely keep it themselves as they finally have a chance to score, turning both of them into “James Harden” style players.
The Nets falling apart is not the only scenario of what could happen with Harden in Brooklyn, in fact, it could end up being a championship. James Harden has not been a great teammate; however, he has never been on a great team before. His greatest teammate with the Houston Rockets was Russell Westbrook, who is also known for hogging the ball, and with two players of that style on the same team there will obviously be bad chemistry. It’s possible Harden could find peace knowing he has two legendary players along his side who will have his back, if he has theirs.
Another interesting topic is that James Harden and Kevin Durant were teammates from 2009 to 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first three seasons of Harden’s career. They have remained friends since then, which could possibly add good chemistry to the Brooklyn squad.
