James Harden is no longer employed by the Houston Rockets. In a blockbuster four-team trade, The Beard has been moved to the Nets for Victor Oladipo, Rodion Kurucs, Dante Exum, four first round picks and four pick swaps, according to reports.
It’s the end of a successful, if often turbulent, era in Houston. It’s unclear if a full rebuilding effort is next for the Rockets, but what’s certain is that there will be challenges ahead after dealing the disgruntled former MVP.
A move of this magnitude will inevitably affect other teams, including the Spurs. So let’s take a look at what this means for San Antonio and what lessons can be learned from what happened in Houston in the past few seasons.