James Harden is growing increasingly frustrated in Brooklyn. That much is clear as per multiple media reports citing sources close to Harden.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Harden is less than thrilled with Kyrie Irving's part-time playing status and Steve Nash's rotating carousel of lineups, particularly in the closing minutes of games and is open to a change of scenery away from Brooklyn.
On the flipside, Nets' fans are watching Harden play an uninspired brand of basketball. The Beard has never been a hustle player, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, but the same passion, fervor and intensity he played with upon his trade to the Nets last season is absent from his play so far this year.
Kyrie Irving on what led to his strong 4th quarter vs. San Antonio tonight:
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 22, 2022
"James yelled at me - 'Kai, get the f-ing ball'" in the 3rd quarter...so I kind of took that personal and wanted to come out in the 4th quarter with an aggressive mindset" pic.twitter.com/1rb1tae95F
It appears to be a culmination of factors, officiating coupled rule changes are impacting his ability to get to the line with regularity, Harden nursing his injured hamstring back to full health earlier this season along with subpar conditioning on his part.
Harden is only 31, but for a player who's had the type of mileage, usage and beating his body has taken over the years from feasting at the charity stripe, he's an old 31.
Add all these physical factors are only part of the equation with the mental toll of Irving's on again, off again eligibility along with Kevin Durant being sidelined for at least the next month challenge Harden immensely to hold down the fort in Brooklyn.
When Harden joined the Nets in January of 2021, he envisioned a Brooklyn superteam predestined for greatness and ready to be a budding dynasty. Injuries, bad luck and off the court issues have prevented Brooklyn's big three from realizing its potential halfway through year two.
The championship window is still open, but likely more than half closed. Harden is feeling the urgency to win now. Without his full complement of stars, including Durant's ongoing rehab and Irving's ongoing refusal to comply with local mandates, questions about Beard's willingness to remain a Net past this season are mounting.
Things could change drastically over the next month or so with spring around the corner and COVID-19 potentially entering a more "endemic"phase. Should this scenario play out, a loosening of local mandates would allow Irving to return full-time and assuming Durant's and Joe Harris' injury recovery don't hit any bumps in the road, Harden's full arsenal of weapons might be at his disposal ahead of April's NBA playoffs.
For now, trade rumors involving Harden are still premature and while he'll be fully invested in winning a title with Brooklyn this season, how the next few months play out will go a long way in determining whether he'll re-sign with the club long-term or look for another title contender to join in free agency.
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