Houston Media, Fans React to James Harden Trade to Sixers

Once again James Harden is on the move.

About a year after his last departure, the relationship between the superstar guard and his new team, the Nets, soured to the point that Brooklyn traded Harden to Philadelphia at Thursday’s trade deadline.

The Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 10, 2022

Rockets offered plenty of strong takes in the aftermath.

Some simply enjoyed seeing Brooklyn struggle with the consequences of Harden’s forced and messy departure in much the same way that Houston had to when the Nets lured him away only 13 months ago.

Check out some reactions from Houston below:

You don't have to agree with me, but every man writes his own legacy and when it's all said and done, James Harden better hope he wins a championship because if he doesn't then the history books will remember him exactly how I described him in the tweet above ^^

— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 10, 2022

Prediction: In about six months, it will look pretty clear that the 76ers came out of this trade with two Top 10 NBA players and the Nets did not.

— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) February 10, 2022

I can promise you it's not going to sit quite right at Toyota Center that James Harden wanting out prompted Daryl Morey and Tad Brown to leave to Philly only to get Harden there a year later. It's going to be really wild if Eric Gordon and Mike D'Antoni are next.

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2022

Curious what #Rockets fans think.

With James Harden now in Philadelphia, and no active connection to the Brooklyn first rounders that will convey to Houston, will you be rooting for Harden to win a title?

— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) February 10, 2022

Or, and hear me out — maybe all three (correctly) decided that their odds of winning a title were greater if they could hitch their wagon to an MVP player in his mid 20s who was already there.

What a joke. https://t.co/EIK2EYQ5fk

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2022

If Simmons works out nicely in Brooklyn & I think he will, then the Nets could be more stable (& very good) through a longer period of #Rockets having their picks/swaps. He's under contract for 3 more seasons.

— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) February 10, 2022

I'm not sure what this means for the future of those Nets picks Houston owns, but Brooklyn has restocked their asset chest.

Assuming those two Sixers picks will fall in the years they owe to Houston (two of 2022, 2024, and 2026).

— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) February 10, 2022

As we saw a year ago, Harden gets what Harden wants. Nets going to have difficulty with that tribute video.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 10, 2022

James Harden reunited with his enablers. Best of luck to Doc https://t.co/9fVzamkHcS

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2022

James Harden lasted less than 13 months in Brooklyn

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2022

James Harden lasted less than 13 months in Brooklyn

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2022

Rafael Stone laser eyes https://t.co/tSeyVoCJm6

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) February 10, 2022

The Nets got significantly worse man. Kevin Durant is going to have to carry. Ben Simmons doesn't play offense in the 2nd round.

They're getting way too much love rn

— DGC (@Itamar_17_10) February 10, 2022

The Nets gave up their entire future for James Harden just to trade him a year later.

This is insane.

— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) February 10, 2022

SCARY HOURS! https://t.co/DM9MQgiRHj

— David (@2017WSCHAMPIONS) February 10, 2022

https://twitter.com/RocketIntellect/status/1491850825307729928

#Rockets fans trying to analyze whether this trade hurts or improves the team’s chances with the FRPs from BKN – just remember, 5 years is an eternity in the NBA – look what happened in just 13 months. Stone’s main goal at this point is to improve HOU odds in the draft. https://t.co/QvTcCOLuNj

— Justin Levine (@JustinLev) February 10, 2022

It's also a great day for @dmorey, who can now tweet about James Harden again without getting fined. pic.twitter.com/YEiVvPMfYq

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 10, 2022

Houston preferred the picks package over the Simmons package because they were not as high on Simmons as many on NBA Twitter, and they did not think those Brooklyn picks were certain to all be in the 20s.

Based on what has happened since, that calculus seems to have been correct

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 10, 2022

.@WindhorstESPN: “As soon as James Harden decided he was going into ‘Houston Harden’ mode the Nets had no choice."

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 10, 2022

So how long do we think it'll be before Harden wants out of Philly?

— Anthony Duckett (@a_duckett) February 10, 2022

Ayeeee Houston picks looking BEAUTIFUL RN. https://t.co/ZOIfOwPqXU

— Houston’s Very Own (@YoItsKenneth) February 10, 2022

Reunited and it feels so good! pic.twitter.com/99AZPVgVMO

— Matthew Cardenas (@Matt__Card) February 10, 2022

If Harden can win a Championship all his shenanigan’s will be forgotten.

Winning always cures all.

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