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In an alternate actuality, James Harden could be in a Denver Nuggets uniform proper now.
When eight-time All-Star James Harden made it identified that he wished to depart the Houston Rockets after eight stellar seasons with the Southwestern franchise, the 2 most important cities being introduced as potential locations — by and enormous — had been Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who had simply introduced over former Rockets common supervisor Daryl Morey to be their lead decision-maker, would have been in a position to create a commerce package deal centered round 2018 Rookie of the 12 months Ben Simmons. Certainly, the Sixers even thought that that they had secured a deal for Harden, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Clearly, Harden would go on to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team deal that included the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Nonetheless, there was apparently one other workforce that had their eyes on The Beard, even going as far as to take a “severe look” at buying and selling for him.
The Denver Nuggets.
Based on The Athletic’s Sam Amick, deciding against trading for Harden “got here with an unofficial mandate internally… it was time for everybody on board to take that subsequent step ahead.”
Contemplating that the Nets surrendered seven first-round picks, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen (amongst different items) for Harden, it appears truthful to imagine that Denver would have needed to commerce away a number of first-round picks, Michael Porter Jr. (or Jamal Murray) and probably extra. A king’s ransom akin to which will have even been out of the Nuggets’ funds.
Nonetheless, the considered Harden in Denver is intriguing.
Positive, Harden’s affinity for the celeb life-style and the nightlife seems to go towards the grain of the Nuggets’ tradition. Murray and Nikola Jokic — the workforce’s greatest two gamers — have lowkey personalities and don’t seem to fixated on having an expensive life-style. The identical may be mentioned for many of the Nuggets’ roster, save for the outspoken Porter and the vigorous R.J. Hampton.
Nonetheless, say the Nuggets’ did commerce for Harden with a package deal that included Porter, which most followers would have most popular of the groups predestined Huge Three.
How would Jokic, Murray and Harden have match when every are lead guards, in some style or one other?
The ball-movement may have been lovely although if everybody was completely satisfied to be unselfish, and the trio may have all maintained All-Star degree averages whereas making the sport simpler for one another.
But, contemplating simply how a lot Houston acquired in return for Harden, it appears extra seemingly that Murray would have needed to be traded (a lot to the chagrin of the followers, in fact).
A Jokic – Harden duo appears lots like that of Jokic – Murray when it comes to with the ability to work a harmful two-man sport and excel taking part in off of one another. There could be a distinction when it comes to shot-selection; Murray would take extra midrange photographs that Harden whereas Harden took extra 3-point photographs and attacked the rim extra. Harden, who is healthier at manipulating defenses and facilitating than Murray, would have additionally been in a position to mesh higher with Porter.
Particularly contemplating that, whereas Murray is attempting to strengthen his star energy and up his averages, Harden prefers having the kind of offensive firepower beside that stops him from having to guide the league in scoring.
Regardless of who was dealt within the package deal that introduced Harden to Denver although, the Nuggets would seemingly have been higher off within the short-term.
Though Jokic is taking part in aggressively and placing up MVP numbers, not to mention All-NBA, Denver is simply 14-11 and the seventh seed within the Western Convention.
Murray, anticipated to take a famous person leap, has really taken a small step again whether or not it’s due to accidents or simply untimely premonitions. Porter, a viable preseason candidate for Most Improved Participant after Jerami Grant’s departure created extra alternative for him, isn’t almost as concerned within the offense as you’d anticipate. Every of the workforce’s free agent signings from final fall are performing under the extent of the gamers they changed.
Within the long-term, with Harden’s age (31) and the potential of each Murray and MPJ, it’s harder to find out whether or not Denver is healthier off sticking with their present core or not. That mentioned, ought to Porter flip down or fail to obtain a rookie contract extension supply following the season, that query may reply itself sooner relatively than later.
Would you could have wished The Beard in Denver? Tell us on Twitter @Nugg_Love.
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