Brooklyn Nets made one of the biggest trades in the history of the NBA last season, by bringing James Harden to the team via a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and the Pacers.
Harden came as an addition to an already star-studded roster headlined by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Adrian Wojwarowski of ESPN revealed the Nets saw the Harden trade as a necessity last season with Kyrie Irving in and out of their roster.
Woj reports (via Alec Sturm of Nets Daily) that the Nets acquired Harden as a “necessity” to prepare for the possibility that they could not count on Irving when it matters most.
Irving missed just 18 games last season; however, this season, he is expected to remain out after refusing to get vaccinated in what he confirmed to be a protest over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
While the Nets would have liked the idea of having three superstars in their roster, the reality of Irving’s decision hit the franchise. Regardless, having two of the best scorers in the league isn’t bad at all.
