NBA Rumors: 5 best trade destinations for James Harden to win championship

No. 1 James Harden trade destination: Milwaukee Bucks

Objectively funny to pair James Harden with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who Harden famously criticized as “unskilled” during MVP debates of yesteryear. Teaming up with Giannis on the court would probably help James appreciate the two-time MVP’s unique impact on winning.

Meanwhile, the Bucks are in a bit of a dire spot after claiming the No. 1 seed last season, only to lose to the No. 8 seed Heat in the first round and fire their well-respected (and extremely accomplished) coach. Adrian Griffin now joins Milwaukee as a first-year coach with high expectations and immediate pressure to deliver results.

The Bucks can justify running it back and hoping for better injury luck. Does Milwaukee lose that first-round series with a healthy Giannis? Probably not. But there are definite concerns about the offensive potency of Milwaukee’s current group. Jrue Holiday is a brilliant player, but his scoring limitations have crept into view during multiple postseason runs now. Could the Bucks swing on a Holiday-for-Harden swap?

It would probably depend on multiple factors, from Harden’s willingness to commit to a long-term future in Milwaukee to the Sixers’ willingness to trade Harden to a primary Eastern Conference contender. The basketball fit, however, is simply undeniable. The Bucks would miss Holiday’s defense on the perimeter, but Harden provides enough offensively to make the swap worthwhile.

Harden-Giannis pick-and-rolls would be thoroughly destructive. Harden is an elite transition playmaker, constantly rocketing hit-ahead passes to teammates sprinting up the court. Giannis is the best fast-break player in the world. Khris Middleton would benefit from Harden’s smooth deliveries behind the 3-point line, as would Milwaukee’s gaggle of role-playing shooters. The Bucks would be quite scary on paper.