James Harden joins the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster NBA deal by the Houston Rockets, US media reported on Wednesday.
ESPN and The Athletic reported that the 2018 NBA MVP will join the Nets in a deal that will reunite Harden with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant.
The 31-year-old played three seasons alongside Durant in Oklahoma City between 2009 and 2012.
ESPN reported that the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers were also involved in the complex deal.
In return for Harden, Houston received multiple players and draft picks, as well as security guard Caris LeVert.
LeVert was immediately sold to the Pacers against Victor Oladipo.
There was no immediate confirmation of the deal from Houston or Brooklyn.
Harden’s move increases the chances of the Nets becoming a new super team, with the unfortunate Rockets ace teaming up with Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Harden’s exit from the missiles was getting closer, and teammates were complaining about his stance in the locker room.
On Tuesday, Harden flogged after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Rockets at home by 117-100.
“I love this town,” said Harden. “I’ve literally done everything I can. I mean, this situation is insane. I don’t think it can be fixed.”
Teammate John Wall, who joined Houston from the Washington Wizards this year, accused Harden of not being committed to the team.
“When you have certain people who don’t want to shop, it’s hard,” Wall said.
On Wednesday, Harden was banned from team training after his breakout.
“We found it best for James and best for the group not to be in training,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas told reporters on a video call.
Silas said Harden’s criticism was “hard to hear”.
“Especially when you don’t believe it and know that it is not true,” he said.
The Rockets’ DeMarcus cousins, meanwhile, accused Harden of being “disrespectful” to the Houston locker room.
“Will he ever have to play with us again? I don’t know, honestly, I don’t care,” said Cousins.
“He can feel how he wants to feel about the organization, but the other 14 guys in the locker room didn’t do anything to him.
“So if we get some of the disrespectful comments and antics, it’s totally unfair to us.”
Harden, an eight-time NBA All-Star and a successful goalscorer, joined Houston in 2012 after starting his career in Oklahoma City.
During that time, however, he was unable to lead the Rockets to an NBA championship and instead suffered a series of playoff disappointments. Houston failed to reach the NBA final once in eight consecutive playoff games.
