Knicks should trade for James Harden, if given the opportunity

If the Rockets engage with the Knicks on James Harden, should they try to swing a deal?

There’s a kinship among people who have super long beards. It’s impossible to pass a long-bearded stranger without a nod of respect and approval. I wasn’t in a fraternity, but having a long beard feels like one with an even more time-consuming recruitment process.

I’ve been working on mine since 2017. I just barely trimmed it for my wedding. I spend more money on hair products–as a bald man– than my wife does. It’s a serious undertaking.

So it should come as no surprise that the president of my fraternity’s NBA chapter—James Harden—a man literally referred to as “The Beard”—is my favorite player in the league. Does that mean I want the Knicks to trade for him?

My super-aggressive, stake-in-the-ground take: “Ehhhh. It depends.”

Any conversation about the New York Knicks trading for Harden has got to begin with a realistic package. While I love the spirit of the Knicks fans who propose things like “Randle and DSJ for Harden. Who says no, bruh?” we ALL know that won’t be enough to acquire a perennial MVP candidate.  (Everyone says no, dude. The Rockets. The NBA. Common sense.)

With Giannis Antetokounmpo signing an extension in Milwaukee, it ratchets up the Harden trade market. If a front office saw Giannis as the final Infinity Stone for their championship gauntlet, Harden would absolutely be the best available option left. Teams like the Warriors and the Heat may now be more inclined to get involved. Even if it means throwing their beloved Tyler Herro off a cliff.

For the Knicks to even get a foot in the door, it’ll take a starting package like the one below:

Knicks Get: James Harden

Rockets Get: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, Mavs 2021 1st Round Pick, Knicks 2022 & 2023 1st Round Picks, Knicks 2024 1st Round Pick (Top 10 Protected)

Borrowing my least favorite Twitter cliché: That’s it. That’s the trade.

The Rockets will want both Mitch and RJ. They will want at least four first-round picks (I’m not even sure they’d go for a protected pick). They’ll probably also want one of Frank/Knox/DSJ. Randle becomes salary filler whom the Rockets can waive next offseason for only $4 million in cap penalty (which the Knicks could also add cash to the deal to help offset).

This is certainly a haul. It’s reminiscent of what the Knicks had to give up to get Carmelo at the 2011 deadline. It should still be on the table, though.

On the one hand, Harden absolutely makes the team better. When you look at the current weaknesses on offense (three-point shooting, a clear offensive engine), Harden would instantly improve those areas. A Noel/Toppin/Gordon/Burks/Harden starting five isn’t the worst in the Eastern Conference.

Harden would also bring excitement and glitz (and beard) back to the Garden. No more exclusion from Christmas Day games! With some additional maneuvering, the Knicks would still have another max slot next offseason. Maybe Kawhi opts out and decides to head back to the conference where he was a Finals MVP.

Carmelo again comes to mind, though. The Knicks would be spending a lot of money to hope they can find a running mate for their star and hope to be competitive in an increasingly difficult Eastern Conference.

This move also guts the team of youth both present and future. They’d still own their own pick in this year’s draft and still have the Mavs protected pick in 2023, but that’s it for first-round picks through 2025.

There’s also that player option looming at the end of next season. The Knicks would have a ticking clock from the moment Harden arrives to make win-now moves. Harden would undoubtedly improve the team in the short-term, but the long-term costs with a deal like this would be astronomical.

If the Knicks actually made this move, I would be the first person in line to buy a Harden jersey. He’s my favorite player after all, but I wouldn’t bet on my bearded brother being a Knick anytime soon.