We are now just days away from the start of the 2021 NBA season. There have been tons and tons of blockbuster moves in free agency and we have seen many teams make moves to upgrade before this upcoming season. James Harden’s name has been on the trade rumor table for weeks and still no move. There has been speculation about him possiblly going to the Nets, creating a dominate big three in Brooklyn with him, Kyrie, and KD. Others have proposed the thought of him possibly reconnecting with former GM Daryl Morey in Philadelphia. However, here’s a move that leaves Harden in South Beach signing with the Miami Heat.
A Perfect Match
The Miami Heat are already a perfect match for Harden as the Heat have not made any big moves so far this offseason. The Heat still remain in title contention after a Cinderella season that landed them in the NBA finals. However, with other teams in the East getting big roster updates, especially the Nets, the Heat will have to add to improve. The reason why an addition of Harden fits well with the team is also because of its players. Jimmy is the main star, but doesn’t need to be on ball to be effective. Butler showed some amazing defense last year and played very well in the playoffs. He locked down lots of players like the Pacers TJ Warren. If Jimmy Butler doesn’t need to be on ball to be effective, then James Harden’s offensive style is a perfect fit. On the Rockets last year, Harden never really clicked with Westbrook. The small ball game didn’t really workout the way they wanted it too. That’s because Westbrook is an on ball point guard. With more time on the ball for Harden, that could mean even more points. That’s pretty good for a guy who is already averaging 35 a game. This is exactly why the Heat should get their hands on him.
The Trade Package
The Heat have lots of depth and bench players they could send away for James Harden. Guys like Andre Iguodala, and Kendrick Nunn are possible trade packages along with a few picks. Duncan Robinson is also a guy who has tons of trade value. It’s likely That Houston would be looking at guys to combat around the signing of veteran John Wall. Iguodala is a nice veteran that would make a good impact on young Houston players. Then you ship over Kendrick Nunn who played great as a rookie last year. The Rockets really aren’t looking for that much for Harden its seems, however there offer has to be better than what Philly and Brooklyn are offering. If the Heat can pull this trade off, then they can really be looking at title contention once again.
Projected Starting Lineup With Harden
Here’s how a Miami Heat lineup with James Harden would most likely look:
Point Guard Shooting guard Small Forward Power Forward Center
Goran Dragic James Harden Jimmy Butler Meyers Leonard Bam Adebayo
This Starting Lineup would clearly be amazing. With three All-Stars in the lineup, the Heat look like they can really make a difference when facing other top teams in the league. Considering these players aren’t part of the Harden trade, the Heat would have a stacked bench. One of the NBA’s best shooters, Duncan Robinson, would be the Heat’s 6th man. They would still have Tyler Herro, Avery Bradley, and others coming off the bench.
This trade is still very unlikely, but you never know with a smart guy like Pat Riley controlling a team’s front office. The NBA season is getting super close, but don’t rule out a blockbuster trade that includes James Harden.