Minnesota Timberwolves: James Harden should be a blockbuster trade target

Blockbuster trade targets for the Timberwolves: It could actually happen

James Harden

James Harden is a prime candidate for a change of scenery as the Houston Rockets seem to be moving in a different direction.

After making the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons, the Rockets are moving on from head coach Mike D’Antoni and front office boss Daryl Morey.

Harden and Russell Westbrook don’t fit seamlessly together, and the team will need a major shakeup in order to compete for a championship. What bigger shakeup could there be than shipping Harden to Minnesota for Towns and the first pick?

Towns is a better fit with Westbrook than Harden, and the Rockets would have an infusion of young talent to compete for the next four years.

For the Wolves, Harden is an MVP-caliber player who would breathe some life into a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for the better part of two decades. Harden, Russell, and the young wings could implement a small-ball system similar to the one they ran in Houston.

Wolves GM Gersson Rosas used to be the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations in Houston and could massage a deal with the Rockets front office.

Harden has two years remaining on his current contract with a player option for the 2022-23 season.

He would probably be the most unhappy with the deal of anyone involved, but if the Wolves want to swing for the fences, Harden is the biggest superstar that their top two assets could buy.

Towns likely has two years before he goes full Anthony Davis and tries to force his way out of Minnesota, but the Wolves shouldn’t sit around and wait for that to happen.

Trading Towns and their top pick may not be the best idea for the future of the franchise, but if they wanted to see what’s out there, the returns could be bigger than anyone anticipated and would make any GM think hard about a franchise-altering deal.

A huge trade for James Harden would be the biggest move the franchise has made since trading away Kevin Garnett, and it could be just what the doctor ordered for a fanbase that has been waiting for a true superstar for 15 years.