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Report: Both Rockets, James Harden preferred Nets trade over 76ers

Ben DuBose
·2 min read

When longtime star James Harden forced a trade out of Houston in January 2021, there were two primary suitors: Brooklyn and Philadelphia. The rationale for the Rockets choosing the Nets package has been well chronicled, since the historic haul of future draft picks and swaps from the Nets likely offered more long-term upside than the bid of Ben Simmons and fewer draft assets from the 76ers.

Now, it appears there was one more contributing factor: Harden also personally preferred the Nets, when presented with the choice.

From Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic:

With both final offers in hand on the morning of Jan. 13, 2021, sources say Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta approached Harden about which destination he preferred: Brooklyn or Philadelphia.

It remains unclear whether Fertitta would have been willing to follow through on the Sixers deal if Harden had opted for Philadelphia. At the time, sources say, the Rockets also strongly preferred the Nets proposal. …

There was a sense of relief from Fertitta, sources say, that Harden had picked the Nets. It made the deal that much easier and less problematic to complete. Houston finalized the Nets’ blockbuster, which included four first-round picks and four draft swaps.

Ironically, just over a year later, the Rockets may be hoping for Harden to make the opposite decision involving the same two teams.

Charania and Amick’s story includes details of Philadelphia’s plan to pursue Harden in 2022 free agency, with Simmons as the headliner in a potential sign-and-trade bid to Brooklyn. Should the Nets lose Harden, that could make the potential value of those Brooklyn draft assets acquired by the Rockets — which run through 2027 — go up.

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