Trade talks are starting to heat up across the NBA with the trade deadline just about two weeks away, but recent news has turned heads in the league given that it is about James Harden’s future. Harden was traded to the Nets last season in a blockbuster deal that was expected to change the league, but James Harden’s time in Brooklyn has not been great.
Not only have the Nets’ “Big 3” of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden only played in a total of 16 games dating back to last season, but now new reports that have surfaced state that Harden’s future with the Nets is in question due to him wanting to test free agency this upcoming summer.
Never being a free agent before in his career, Harden has the option to opt out of his $47.3M player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Nets’ star has “clear intentions” of becoming a free agent for the first-time in his career and will entertain others from other teams besides the Nets.
After not agreeing to a new contract extension before the start of this season, Harden was asked by reporters about his future in Brooklyn and he simply responded by stating, “The contract, the money, it’s going to be there. I don’t plan on leaving this organization and the situation that we have.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Sixers Actually Pull Off James Harden Acquisition?
This was said by Harden approximately three months ago and now, multiple reports are saying the opposite, so where does James Harden stand with the Brooklyn Nets right now?
It seems very likely that Harden could actually opt out of his massive player option for next season, but there is a lot that could factor into this decision, starting with how the 2021-22 season plays out for the Nets.
Obviously reports of the All-Star’s frustrations in Brooklyn coming out now with Kevin Durant out with a knee injury is a little “fishy”, but at the same time, the Nets have already been on a roller coaster ride this season with Kyrie Irving’s playing status.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could Sixers Actually Pull Off James Harden Acquisition?
Due to him being unvaccinated, Irving is only allowed to play in away games, which causes the Nets’ rotations to change daily. There seems to b no stability within this organization right now amongst the three All-Stars and should the Nets fail to make the NBA Finals, Harden could very well end up being on the move in the offseason.
So where could James Harden ultimately end up? Here are the four most logical offseason landing spots for Harden right now.
