James Harden trade: 8 players the Houston Rockets could get

Houston Rockets players to target in James Harden trade: 7. Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. is one of the younger players on this list and is a player that holds a lot of value around the league. The Houston Rockets reportedly poached the Nuggets about a deal for the 22-year-old versatile  forward, and it’s easy to understand why they had their sights set on him.

Porter averaged 9.3 points on 42.2 percent from three as a rookie, despite only playing 16.4 minutes off the second unit. Porter received an uptick in playing time in the postseason, as he averaged 23.4 minutes in the playoffs, and averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, while also making 38.2 percent of his threes.

Porter is averaging more than twice as many points in 2020-21 as he did as a rookie, as he’s averaging 19.5 points and has improved upon his rebounding numbers to the tune of 6.8 rebounds per game, in his first season as a starter for the Nuggets. Porter has also made 42.3 percent of his threes in the young 2020-21 season on 6.5 attempts per game.

Porter is also averaging 1.5 blocks per game, and his 7-foot wingspan helps him significantly in that department. Porter is still on his rookie deal that pays him $3.5 million this season, and his team option for 2021-22 was also recently picked up as well.

Dealing Porter for Harden would allow the Nuggets to compile a trio of Harden, Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic, which they reportedly want to do. The Nuggets would have to add several salary fillers to get a deal executed for Harden, who is signed to a supermax deal that pays him $41 million this season, but their ability to include Porter Jr. in a deal improves their chances of landing Harden.

Next: No. 6