James Harden Saw The Celtics Beat The Bucks And Now He Wants To Come To Boston
Listen, who could blame James Harden for wanting to come to the Celtics. Just like the rest of us, he's fresh off watching them beat the "best team in the East" in dramatic fashion. He witnessed what monsters both of the Jays are turning into and that maybe they're actually contenders. They weren't on his initial list, mostly because just like the rest of the NBA world he was sleeping on the Celts. But I'm to believe it's a coincidence that after they take down MIL that he suddenly wants to find his way to Boston?
Even as a gigantic James Harden guy, someone who has been in Team Harden since 2007, and someone that loves to watch him play basketball….how do I say this?
No thanks. I'm all set.
When you realize that it'll probably cost you Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, that's gonna be a no from me dawg. Did you just see what the Jays did last night against one of the best defenses in the league? You know what, let me remind you
What exactly do I need James Harden for? To beat the Bucks? I just saw them do it without their All Star point guard, lottery pick reserve wing, and Tacko. I don't need to gut my team in order to compete with the best in the conference. I just witnessed it.
I say this while fully acknowledging that James Harden is a generational talent, always in the MVP conversation, and is a walking 35 points a night without breaking a sweat. I get that. But I also believe that a Harden/Kemba/Tatum core does not get you over the hump and a title favorite. The whole idea of giving the team to the Jays was to get them more shots, adding someone like Harden feels like the exact opposite of that. It also shortens your window, which frankly I'm not exactly looking for this team to do.
You know what I truly think this is? Another Rockets leverage tactic. If they are able to leak out that Harden is into coming to Boston, it's just another team they can use as leverage to get more out of the deal they really want to make. Other teams hear Danny Ainge's name and they get shivers down their spine. I'm all for the Rockets using the Celts as leverage to the best of their ability. Get the most you possibly can if you have to trade your franchise player. I just don't need him coming to the Celts at the price of their heart and soul and young franchise cornerstone.
If you're telling me the Rockets would be willing to take back Kemba, I still don't love it but I am a realist. If that knee is going to be an issue I get you have to do what you have to do. But we all know that's not going to be what the Rockets want, so unfortunately for James I'm not sure it matters that he now has the Celtics on his list.