The Brooklyn Nets are currently at a crossroads in their franchise history as they strive to regain championship contention. This offseason, they have made it a priority to add more talent to their roster, but the memory of a certain trade from the past continues to weigh heavily on them.
On January 14, 2021, the Nets acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets in exchange for several players and future draft picks. The move was intended to help star players Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving pursue a championship. However, after just one season, Harden expressed his desire to leave the team due to various issues.
Following Harden’s departure, the Nets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons. Despite this change, Nets fans remain disappointed by how the Harden trade turned out as they had hoped to form a championship-caliber team with a big 3.
One of the most significant reminders of this failed trade is that the Rockets now hold the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, which they obtained through the Nets. Brooklyn’s lackluster 2023-24 season led to Houston unexpectedly landing a top pick in the draft lottery.
The Nets are now facing consequences from trading away future draft assets as they lack picks in the upcoming draft and are in need of young talent. The Rockets are exploring ways to regain these lost picks and have expressed interest in negotiating with
