NBA Trade Rumors: James Harden, Andrew Wiggins and this year’s most likely trade bait
1. James Harden
The Houston Rockets’ front office doesn’t want to move Harden, but they lack the backbone to rebuff his trade demands for very long. He may start the year in Houston, but at some point, the Rockets will face reality and auction him off to the highest bidder.
The real question is whether or not any potential title contender will really be willing to give up multiple premium assets to satisfy Houston’s demands. Harden is absolutely a better player than Jrue Holiday, but it’s hard to envision him landing the same level of package that the New Orleans Pelicans were able to extract from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer.
The Rockets will likely be forced to accept a package that only features one true premium asset. They don’t seem overly interested in Caris LeVert, but he might be the single best player available to them in a trade. It’s possible Houston will opt for premium draft compensation instead.
Next. One bold prediction for every NBA team this season. dark
The bottom line is that the NBA is a league dominated by its star players. That’s why the Rockets will ultimately be powerless to keep Harden against his will. Ironically, they’re set to part with Harden because they’ve given in to his every desire over the past several seasons. He’s the one legitimate superstar most likely to be traded this season.