CJ McCollum Has a Grave Prediction for James Harden Unless Brooklyn Nets Decide to Do the Extreme

Published 11/27/2020, 6:30 AM EST

James Harden is in the eye of a media storm right now after reports emerged that Harden wanted to leave the Houston Rockets and go to the Brooklyn Nets. CJ McCollum spoke about the possibility of the trade.

The news of discontent came off the back of several changes in the Houston Rockets. The Rockets sacked head coach Mike D’Antoni, replacing him with Stephen Silas. Additionally, Rockets GM Daryl Morey left the Rockets to join the Philadelphia 76ers front office.

Harden, after another disappointment in the playoffs, no longer wants to play with the Rockets. Even though he has had many All-Star teammates such as Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and now Russell Westbrook, Harden hasn’t been able to see any playoff success.

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Harden’s desire to leave is due to his championship ambition. Therefore, a reunion with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn is, for Harden, his best chance to win a championship before his prime ends.

McCollum on the James Harden trade

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The Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum spoke to the Load Management Podcast about the possibility of Harden’s trade to Brooklyn. He suggested that he didn’t expect the trade to go through. He said, “I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t think they’re going to trade him there. I think he’s going to end up staying. Would you give up a player with two years left on his deal? Who’s best player?”

McCollum suggested that while the young assets that Brooklyn would offer are great, the Rockets have invested too much into James Harden for them to be able to give him away. He said, “I like LeVert, I like Dinwiddie, and I like Jarrett Allen. I like the picks. But for Houston, you went all-in on James Harden. You brought in James, his preferred players. You don’t trade him this fast.”

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James Harden is an All-Star and therefore, they cannot replace him with multiple young picks. McCollum suggested that they could consider a trade if they were to get Kyrie Irving in a return and said, “For Kyrie, I would do it… I mean if you really want James.”

It will be interesting to see if James Harden makes his way to Brooklyn in the trade. The trade would be a blockbuster and create a superteam that could challenge reigning champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Aaditya Krishnamurthy is an NBA & NFL journalist for EssentiallySports, before which he worked at BusinessWorld magazine. He has been a fan of Basketball for over 10 years now, since Shaquille O’Neal was a Phoenix Suns player. During his time at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, he started a sports magazine for the college called the Overtime Tribune and hosted the Overtime Tribune Podcast until he graduated.

CJ McCollum Has a Grave Prediction for James Harden Unless Brooklyn Nets Decide to Do the Extreme

McCollum on the James Harden trade

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