HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket defended by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in the second half during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
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Players Really Don’t Want To Compete For Championships, Says Source

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/樂威壯 Getty Imag犀利士 es)

Last week, Houston Rockets All-Star and former MVP, James Harden turned down a $50 million per year deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Per Woj, after turning down the deal, Harden requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Houston is “demanding an especially steep return” in any trade involving the three-time scoring champion and wants “a proven, young star as a centerpiece along with a massive picks package.”

The Nets have offered “kitchen sink” at Houston in a potential trade for James Harden, reported The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.

“All of it. All Future Picks, all Pick Swaps, and LeVert, and Dinwiddie.”

However, not everyone around the league is a fan of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden create another super team. Including a league source that share that players around don’t want to compete anymore.

“What the point of those three teaming up in Brooklyn? Players don’t want to really compete for a championship nowadays,” said the source.

During a recently appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” NBA analyst Chris Broussard shared, “People around the league are saying Durant wants Harden and Kyrie does not. Because Harden might likely have the ball in his hands.”

Broussard also shared, “Here is another thing for Kyrie to think about or for those who are looking at his situation. Who is James Harden close with, in the organization in Brooklyn? Mike D’Antoni, who is just hired as a coach in the Brooklyn Nets to assist Steve Nash. D’Antoni says Harden is the best offensive player he’s ever seen. D’Antoni, every offense he has created, has had one guy handling the ball and creating the offense for everybody else. Who you think he’s giving to give the ball in Brooklyn if they get James Harden? It’s James Harden.”

Broussard’s FS1 colleague Skip Bayless called the trio’s potential move to team up would be a ‘chaotic disaster.’


“Listen Kyrie [Irving] and James [Harden] I couldn’t of picked two worse fits. Those two because Kyrie is his own man and he wants to have control of the game, and the ball. Which is why him and Kevin [Durant] are a great fit together because they love each other, ” said Bayless.

Heavy’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson reported that the narrative of James and Irving didn’t like each other and doesn’t get a long is “Fiction,” according to a source.

On Thursday night, Nets GM Sean Marks was a guest on the YES Network’s “Nets Hot Stove” with Michael Grady. During the interview, Mark was asked about the Harden to Brooklyn rumor.

“There’s never a dull moment, and I think when maybe you’re the part of some rumors out there and so forth, you take heed and just look how far the Nets organization has come,” Marks said. “We’re obviously excited to get the team that we have, to be honest, out on the floor, and I think not only with Kevin and Ky and Caris [LeVert] and Jarrett Allen, you work your way through the roster.

“For those guys having the opportunity to get out there and, as you said, wear the black and white, that’s the most important thing. It’s a crazy business that we live in and things are thrown your way all the time, and you have to pivot and be flexible and maintain that throughout the season.”

What do you think?

Written by Landon Buford

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