Former MVP James Harden has turned down an NBA-record contract offer by the Houston Rockets in an attempt to engineer a move to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN.
There has not been any progressive discussions between the teams but Harden has reportedly contacted the Nets’ duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in hopes of a potential Big-Three partnership in Brooklyn.
The idea of playing together again came up during Harden and Durant’s offseason workouts together in Los Angeles.
Sources claim both players talked openly about whether the combination could work and how a trade facilitating it could work.
The Rockets were full of hopes when Russell Westbrook joined Harden in Houston last summer, but after failing to flourish as a pair, they both seem interested in trying again in the upcoming season, with Westbrook reportedly also seeking a way out at the Rockets.
The 31-year-old, who is an eight-time NBA All-Star and seven-time All-NBA performer, has topped the NBA scoring charts for three successive seasons. Last season, his average stood at 34.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.8 steals across 68 games.
Harden has so far competed once in the NBA Finals while playing alongside Durant for Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011/12.
Durant, who missed the entirety of last season with a torn Achilles, is set for a return to the court this season. The 32-year-old has two rings from his stint with the Golden State Warriors, twice winning the NBA Finals MVP.
Irving on the other hand is a 28-year-old Guard previously for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
The Rockets could start the new season without any of Harden or Westbrook on their roster with reports claiming they have been actively searching for trade partners for Westbrook, albeit the marketplace proving relatively barren.
Westbrook, 32, has three years and $131.5 million left on his contract – including a $46.7 million player option in 2022-23.
Harden is one of the best.