Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the first half of game five of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets traded for James Harden to pair with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to give LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers a threat for the NBA championship.
If LeBron and the Lakers are going to win back-to-back titles, the Nets may be the ones with the best chance of stopping that pursuit.
The Nets made a blockbuster trade to get James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets and didn’t have to give up Kyrie Irving in the process. Caris LeVert is the biggest part of the nucleus given up by the Nets to get the perennial MVP candidate and scoring leader.
James Harden makes Nets a legit threat to LeBron, Lakers for NBA crown
Brooklyn is 2 games back from the best record in the Eastern Conference. While it’s early in the season, this move was done with one clear goal in mind. The Nets are going all-in to win an NBA championship this year and didn’t want to waste any more years with Durant and Irving under contract.
This new Big 3 is the most talented trio in the East and should give them a great chance at making it to the NBA Finals for the first time since Jason Kidd and Vince Carter led the Nets to back-to-back appearances in 2002 and 2003.
Standing in the way of winning it is LeBron, Anthony Davis and the reigning champions who have the best record in the NBA with a 9-3 mark.
The Western Conference will present the usual challenges to make it to the Finals but if the Lakers are able to get to the Finals for a showdown with the Nets, it may be the best possible outcome for Adam Silver to boost sagging ratings.
It would be a great showdown of talent for die-hard and casual NBA fans to see LeBron and Durant square up again and see him go against his former teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving, who has been less than complimentary of the King, since their split.
Durant and Irving may have been enough to get the Nets to the Finals but adding Harden to the mix makes them good enough to beat the Lakers and de-throne King James.