The Celtics Should Have Traded for James Harden

by Ryan Mercier

One headline just gave Celtics fans a heart attack. Why would we trade Jaylen Brown, IDIOT?! F**k you, we don’t need Hahhhden we need a centah. Before death threats get sent from the loving people of Boston, neither Jaylen Brown nor Jayson Tatum would have had to be in the deal.

When all was said and done, the Houston Rockets did not hang on to Caris Levert in the massive four-team blockbuster trade which sent Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn and Philly were the front-runners to land the 2017-18 MVP seemingly because of the young, exciting players on each squad. The 76ers have the superstar with mercurial play in Ben Simmons (24 years old) and the Nets had Spencer Dinwiddie (27) and Caris Levert (26).

Dinwiddie got hurt. As for Levert, the Rockets went with Victor Oladipo (28) in a swap with the Pacers instead. The terminology in a four-team trade is difficult to really pin down so here is the bottom line:
Rockets received: G Victor Oladipo, 3 first round picks (2022, 2024, 2026), and 4 first round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027)*

Bringing it all back around to Boston, the player the Celtics should have given up was Kemba Walker (age 30). What’s the difference between Walker and Oladipo? In fact, an argument could easily be made that Walker is the better player. Oladipo had one shining season and both have had plenty of injury problems.

The Celtics, who own all of their own first round picks, should have put their hat in the ring. The effect on the Eastern Conference would have been massive. Boston would have become a clear title contender with a lineup including Harden, Tatum, Brown, and Marcus Smart. Also, it would have prevented the Nets from becoming the favorite in the East and launched the Celts clearly above Brooklyn.

Instead, the Celtics find themselves behind the New York Knicks in the standings right before the All-Star break with a .500 record. There is no possible trade left to cause the ripple affect like Harden would have. There is no looming trade in the coming years for Boston to add a player of Harden’s caliber to their outstanding young tandem of wings.

*For anyone screaming, “No they also got Rodions Kurucs and Dante Exum!” shut up and get a life.