Where James Harden Should Land In Free Agency
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
During this season, all I have been hearing is James Harden is going to Houston, and the only reason I could believe that is if Victor Wembanyama, the unanimous number one pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, were to be there. Well, we all saw the draft and have witnessed the San Antonio Spurs yet again secure another Big man, and not to mention he is also French, which pairs well with the city of San Antonio. Since the Houston Rockets did not get the first pick this year, it is hard to make a case for why Harden would want to reunite with them. It appears that Houston players such as Jalen Green fear Harden’s presence would only stunt others' growth.
However, Harden had 21.0 points per game (PPG), 10.7 assists per game (APG), 6.1 rebounds per game (RPG) on 44 percent of shooting, and 38.5 percent at the 3-point line in the regular season. He seems like a great addition to any team, but there’s one team in mind I think Harden should think about.
(via Fadeaway World)
Portland Trailblazers
Harden to the Trailblazers would make them playoff ready now. Instead of trading the number three pick in the draft and Anfernee Simons to get a superstar, they can keep everyone, draft Scoot Henderson, and keep Lillard and the young core. Playing on the Trailblazers is the ideal situation for Harden because he can excel playing with Lillard and younger players. We have seen this before where a team has decided to keep their young core and end up well. Think about it like this, if the Lakers kept their young core and waited two years, they would have Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Josh Hart, who have all blossomed into young superstars. With this Blazer duo alongside Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and the future number three pick, Henderson can be part of a playoff team.
NBA Analysis Network/James Piercey
Los Angeles CLippers
The only way for the Clippers to go after Harden is if they do not re-sign Russell Westbrook, and to be completely honest, I do not see this happening. As soon as Westbrook got on the court for the Clippers, he made his presence known. In the postseason for the Clippers, Westbrook averaged 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.4 blocks per game (BPG), and 1.2 steals per game (SPG), this was higher than his career numbers, and Westbrook started to look like his hyper old self.
If the Clippers do not re-sign Westbrook, Harden as a third option is a pretty good idea. However, I also don’t feel like Harden can be patient with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s injuries. However, if they are all healthy at the same time, that could tip the scale and make the Clippers instant contenders.
NBA Analysis Network/James Piercey
Sacramento Kings
The Kings this year undoubtedly surprised every team in the league. Who knew the Pacers-Kings trade would end up positive for both teams?
The Kings received: Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a protected 2023 second-round pick.
The Pacers received: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Triston Thompson.
This trade paired the unlikely but very successful duo, De’aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis while keeping Keegan Murray, their number four pick in last year's draft, who averaged 12.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.2 APG, which is very good for a first year. The Kings, for the first time in a long time, were in the playoffs and were the third-best team in the West.
With the acquisitions made in the off-season, they certainly impressed the league. But what if they brought a dignified star in Harden? I’d say that’s another team that could be instant contenders. Harden’s clutch gene is exactly what Sacramento needs to make a significant run. Harden needs to learn to share the ball more with his teammates, but if he gets that done and joins Sacramento, no doubt they can become another scary team in the West.
