#2. Houston Rockets
The trade:
It’s hard to think that anyone would want to trade for James Harden right now, but then you remember just how talented he is. For the past eight years, Harden has yet to average less than 25 points per game in a full season. In the past two seasons alone, he’s averaged 34.3 and 36.1 points per game.
The 2017-18 MVP is worth trading for, despite the antics that have been going in on Houston. He may have never helped lead a team to the NBA Finals (was a six-man during OKC Thunder’s trip to Finals), but he’s been close. With multiple Western Conference Finals losses, Harden is only a few buckets short of reaching the top of the mountain.
So, why would the Raptors make this deal in the first place? Why would you want to take on a guy who’s causing issues with his current team and seems like a potential cancer in the locker room? Well, he’s amazing at basketball and it’s all about winning in the NBA. Even if you had to give up Lowry and Siakam in this trade, Harden would instantly make the Raptors a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference.
VanVleet and Harden would make an unbelievable back-court and with the addition of “The Beard,” you’d probably be able to acquire a cheap veteran near the Trade Deadline to team up with him. Superstar talent attracts other talents in the NBA so by acquiring Harden, it could lead to a few more additions.