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The James Harden saga ended Wednesday when the Houston Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team trade, according to multiple reports.

The trade comes one day after a disgruntled Harden went on a postgame rant following Tuesday’s 117-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets told Harden not to attend Wednesday’s practice.



Houston reportedly received guard Victor Oladipo from the Indiana Pacers, guard Dante Exum from the Cleveland Cavaliers, forward Rodions Kurucs of the Nets, three first-round draft picks from the Nets, one protected first-round pick from the Milwaukee Bucks and the right to swap four first-round picks with the Nets.

Guard Caris LeVert and a second-round pick will go from the Nets to the Pacers and center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince go from Brooklyn to the Cavaliers with Cleveland getting a 2024 second-round pick to the Nets.

The first-round picks Houston received from the Nets are in 2022, 2024, 2026. The swaps are in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027.

The trade reunites Harden with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant. They played together for three seasons before Harden was dealt to the Rockets in 2013.

Harden, 31, has been upset with the Rockets since the departures of coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey after last season.



Harden, an eight-time All-Star, has three years, $133 million with a player option for the final season remaining on his current deal.

Harden is averaging 24.8 points per game – down from his career average of 25.2 – after reporting late to training camp. However, his assists are up to 10.4 per game from a career average of 6.3.

Harden has led the NBA in scoring in each of the past three seasons with averages of 30.4, 36.1 and 34.3.

The Rockets traded Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall in a battle of point guards just before the start of camp. Westbrook’s one-year teaming with Harden didn’t pay off, as the Rockets lost in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nets have experienced their own recent drama with Kyrie Irving away from the team for personal reasons.



–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)