Grading the Rockets return for Harden

The Houston Rockets have traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets for four first-round picks and Victor Oladipo. Here is how the Rockets grade out in the trade.

The Houston Rockets have finally completed the blockbuster in waiting by sending James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The trade involves the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers in what amounts to a four-team trade.

The Rockets will send James Harden to the Nets and will receive Rodions Kurucs, three unprotected first-round picks, and four pick swaps from the Nets. The Cavaliers will receive Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from the Nets and are sending Dante Exum and their 2022 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks to the Rockets.

Finally, the Nets are trading Cariv LeVert to the Indiana Pacers who will then send Victor Oladipo to the Rockets. All told the haul for the Rockets stands as four first-round picks, four unprotected pick swaps, Victor Oladipo, Rodions Kurucs, and Dante Exum.

The draft pick compensation is one of the best hauls in recent history as every pick from the Nets is unprotected and means the Rockets could conceivably have every Nets pick from now until 2027. The headliner of the trade, for the Rockets, is Victor Oladipo who is on an expiring contract and will give Houston’s front office plenty to think about over the coming months.

The Rockets gave up the best player in the trade but got in return an impressive draft haul, a ready-made contributor in Victor Oladipo, and two rotation pieces in Rodions Kurucs and Dante Exum. The winner of this trade won’t be known for almost a decade but let’s grade the Rockets return as it stands right now.

Next: Grading the draft pick haul