NBA trade grades: Grading the four-team James Harden blockbuster trade
By Duncan Smith
Houston Rockets trade grade
The Houston Rockets pivoted from their outside shot at contention and managed to get a solid haul of picks in the deal. They took control over the next seven years of the Brooklyn Nets’ draft, as well as getting the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2022 first-round pick, and all eight of these draft picks are unprotected.
They also got Victor Oladipo in the deal, swapping Caris LeVert to the Indiana Pacers for his services. Oladipo becomes a free agent after this season which presents the Rockets with options on how to proceed going forward, whether they choose to let him walk, trade or re-sign him.
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Perhaps the most important thing to Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is that they saved about $9 million this season by moving off James Harden’s deal and getting cheaper pieces back in exchange. What’s $9 million to a billionaire? Well, to a real billionaire, not much. To a cash-poor billionaire with cheapskate tendencies, on the other hand? For Tilman Fertitta, it’s worth more than it should be.
It seems like the Rockets sold low on Harden, but the die was cast for them. They had to make a deal, and they had to make it quick. In making this deal happen, they did indeed achieve a quick transaction and got Harden out of that locker room in a hurry.