Dallas Mavericks: Should they have interest in James Harden?

Dallas Mavericks: Should they have interest in James Harden?

The Dallas Mavericks won the championship in 2011. Following their run, fans watched their once-great team devolve into a middling franchise that fought for the chance at making the playoffs. Whereas the cross-state rival Houston Rockets rose to become a Western Conference powerhouse, thanks in large part to shrewd acquisitions by Daryl Morey. The centerpiece move was trading for and signing James Harden in October of 2012.

What followed was nothing short of brilliant foresight by the Rockets as they saw Harden go from promising sixth man in Oklahoma City to arguably the league’s most gifted offensive player. He turned Houston’s basketball franchise into an offensive juggernaut virtually overnight.

Fast forward over eight years and while the Rockets have routinely put out an excellent product on the court in terms of scoring and pace, it has not been able to translate into postseason success. Harden and Company would regularly run into the Golden State Warriors and have his title hopes thwarted year after year.

James Harden wants out of Houston: Should the Dallas Mavericks make a move?

Many running mates have come and gone during Harden’s time in Space City. The likes of Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook were enough to get the franchise over the hump. Even the analytical guru general manager that was responsible for bringing Harden into the fold has since left for pastures greener in Philadelphia.

Harden now finds himself on the wrong side of 30, perhaps approaching the tail end of his prime. While the Rockets have taken another crack at pairing Harden with a star running mate in John Wall, the Beard has understandably grown weary of the franchise that gave him the stage to become a franchise cornerstone. He wants a change of scenery to salvage what is left of his prime years on a team with more realistic title aspirations.

Can the Dallas Mavericks make a move for James Harden?

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