2 reasons the Golden State Warriors won in the James Harden trade

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts after a foul by Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

1 of 3

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

James Harden was unhappy in Houston. He was traded to Brooklyn. Yes, despite not being involved, the Golden State Warriors partially won this trade.

The Golden State Warriors know a thing or two about the Houston Rockets.

They’ve had to play them throughout both the regular season and the postseason at their heights. With either Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul helping James Harden lead the show, the Rockets built a team that a perennial contender, and that’s impressive.

After yet another failed season as the Rockets lost the Lakers in a rather discouraging fashion, the team’s management staff left as Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni both found new gigs, ushering in a new era.

That era will be without three-time scoring champion James Harden. A disgruntled star much like Anthony Davis was in his final year with the Pelicans, the Rockets knew they had to trade him, and they did just that.

The Rockets brought home an absolute load of picks while sending away a few key players. Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen were the two big names that the Nets sent away to free up room for Harden.

That said, the Warriors had nothing to do with the deal, but they still came out on top. Let’s dive into two reasons why.

Home/Warriors News