While it did not come as a shock to many around the NBA, the James Harden trade was actually quite surprising because of all the players and draft picks that were involved in this massive deal.
In this mega-deal between the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Indiana Pacers, the Nets received James Harden and the Rockets made out with Caris LeVert, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, three Brooklyn first-round picks (2022, 2024, 2026), one Milwaukee first-round from Cleveland (2022, unprotected), and four Brooklyn first-round pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. Then, the Cavaliers received both Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince in the deal. Shortly after the news broke that Harden was going to Brooklyn, it was then reported that Victor Oladipo was being sent to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Caris LeVert and a future second-round pick.
Not only does this go down as one of the biggest trades in NBA history, but it will change things in the NBA for at least the next 6-7 years because of the draft picks involved. Those draft picks in 2025, 2026 and 2027 may not seem that valuable now, but down the road, they could turn into franchise changing players!
All the time, we see surprising moves in the NBA and as fans of the game, we all wonder the same thing: why? Given some teams success/non-success through the years why did they make this move or why did they not make this trade?
NBA front-offices and general managers around the NBA are normally always looking to prolong their success and are always looking for ways to build their team for years to come. As a result, we see teams make surprising moves all the time, changing the league in the process.
You just never know who is going to be on the move next and given the push many teams around the NBA have made to be true title contenders, it should come as no surprise to anybody if some under-the-radar big names wind up being traded at this season’s trade deadline.
So who could potentially be on the move? Let’s take a look at three surprising NBA stars who could be traded in the near future.
