Could the Denver Nuggets make a move for James Harden?

Rumors have started to swirl about the next landing spot for James Harden after recent reports revealed that he could be considering the open waters in free agency after this season with the Brooklyn Nets. Is there a world in which he joins the Denver Nuggets?

The report, coming from Jake Fischer, Bleacher Report, says that the former MVP wants to explore his options in free agency.

Prying Harden away from the Nets would be ideal for many teams looking to make a run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2023, and the thought of Harden donning the gold and blue to chisel away at a championship alongside hopeful back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic is an exciting thought for some Denver Nuggets fans.

The idea is likely farfetched and would require Harden or Jokic to take a pay cut and have Denver move on from major pieces of the core, but both are hungry for a title and have been known to average nearly a triple-double on their way to separate MVP campaigns.

Harden’s fate may likely be tied to Ben Simmons, as we wait and watch that relationship sour while Joel Embiid puts together another MVP-worthy season of his own in Philadelphia.

Jokic’s availability on a nightly basis could be a draw for Harden, as the tempestuous relationship between Kyrie Irving and the NBA continues while the Nets figure out which games Irving is eligible to play in during the COVID-19 pandemic as an unvaccinated player.

Harden has been on fire from an assists standpoint this season, ranking second in the NBA with 10.1 per game. Harden has notched at least nine assists in his last eight games in a row and would add a unique dynamic alongside Jokic, who is known to be a skilled passer as well, ranking ninth in the NBA with a 7.6 per game. Harden can be ball-dominant, which could clash with Jokic and the Nuggets’ game as head coach Michael Malone likes to share the love.

Philadelphia 76ers’ co-owner Michael Rubin is reportedly tight with superstar rapper Lil Baby, one of Harden’s close encounters as well. So a line can begin to be drawn between Harden and Philly, but a piece of Harden’s heart seems to have never left Houston.

A championship mindset could be what bonds Harden and Jokic. The Joker came up with another Western Conference Player of the Week award this week, tying him with Carmelo Anthony for the most in franchise history. Harden would also provide much-needed relief at the guard spot, as Malone has been juggling the services of Austin Rivers, Bones Hyland, newly acquired Bryn Forbes, and Facu Campazzo while star guard Jamal Murray mends from knee surgery.

Harden can shoot, score off the dribble, get to the line and orchestrate an offense. It’s easy to assume an immense pressure would be taken off of Jokic’s shoulders with a scoring threat like Harden to rely on. Will Barton mirrors some of Harden’s game, and is likely the closest comparison Denver has to the nine-time All-Star selection.

There’s no guarantee Harden would enjoy living in the Mile High City more than Brooklyn, but a championship window would surely stay open for the six-time All-NBA guard out of Lakewood, California and Denver would no doubt shoot to the top of the national spotlight in the NBA as they would become surefire title contenders after adding Harden’s firepower.

A year ago, the Nuggets took a serious look at trading for Harden before eventually landing with the Nets in a four-team deal. Acquiring Harden would obviously mean the end of the Jamal Murray era in Denver, and the Nuggets seem confident they will get Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back before the season’s end.

Harden would add a new dynamic in Denver and provide help at the guard position, but the idea of Harden picking up a pick-axe in Denver still seems like a pipe dream. Nuggets fans will have to tie their horses to the reigning MVP and hope the surrounding cast Tim Connelly has put in place will be enough to get Denver over the championship hump without Harden.