Before the start of the 2020/21 NBA season, the name of James Harden was everywhere, as the Beard had requested a trade from the Houston Rockets. That was a huge success and everybody had something to say about Harden and his future in the NBA.
Plenty of teams were linked with him, some with more possibilities to acquire his services than others, but the Beard was a sought-after star. Now things have cooled off for the player and his team and some reports have seen the light explaining what happened during the days where a trade was “imminent” for the 2018 NBA MVP.
One of the teams that was linked with Harden were the Miami Heat, runners-up of the 2020 NBA Finals. The Floridian teams have the luxury to have a series of talented young players that could have unlocked a trade for Harden, but they never pulled the trigger on this move.
Miami Heat would have offered young players, draft picks and Andre Iguodala for James Harden
In the end, nothing happened for the Heat and Harden and even Jimmy Butler shut down any rumor suggesting the team was interested in the shooting guard’s services. Now, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald shed light on what Miami would have put on the table to get one of the best scorers in NBA history.
“According to an NBA source in regular contact with the team, the Heat was open to offering a couple of its young players — potentially combined with a 2025 first-rounder if OKC unlocks the 2023 pick,” Jackson wrote. “Andre Iguodala and Kelly Olynyk would be needed to facilitate the trade from a cap standpoint, because of trade restrictions involving five other Heat veterans.”
It’s unclear if that would have been enough for the Rockets, who are reportedly looking to get a young player with potential or an established star in order to trade Harden. Perhaps one of those young players was the key to unlock negotiations and made a blockbuster trade between the Heat and Rockets.
Miami are now having trouble finding their touch after a magical 2019/20 season and perhaps it’s time to think about moving a couple of pieces in order to get James Harden, who could be the piece they need to win a new championship.
