This is the type of trade when done by other teams that makes you ask why can't my team make a trade like that ?

Well they did. Jarret Allen is a 22 year old above average NBA player currently and could blossom into an all star. The type of player that a team with 2 small guards needs to have. 2019 highlights below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRQQZy0fy8 Highlights of Jarret Allen 2019.

Taurean Prince is a good 7-8-9-10 type of player who can be kept or traded to a contender at the trade deadline for at least a 2nd round pick or maybe a young player sitting on the bench of a contender.

The other big part of this trade is that it frees up the Cavs to trade Drummond who the Cavs have done a really good job of highlighting his ability. Could bring back another foundation piece or a draft pick. Possibly a large trade exemption. Trade exemption made this trade possible yesterday.

The mechanics and requirements of NBA trades are way beyond me. Don't know what a trade exception is. Don't understand expiring contracts.'
And don't really want to know.
But two things about this trade that I would like to understand [if they don't involved the above issues]

1. Why did the other teams need Cleveland to join the deal to make it happen? Were Exum, Milwaukee No 1 and our future No. 2 that valuable?
2. It seems like we got way more value than we gave up; how did we get so lucky? [Maybe that's the same question.]

Houston was asking for 4 first round picks and wanted to take on no long term contracts

New Jersey only had 3. Needed another team to take on contracts to make a spot for Harden. Cleveland had Milwaukee's 2022 unprotected first round pick and a trade exemption to take Jarret Allen's contract.

New Jersey needed more space and offered Prince (signed for 2 years) to Houston and Cleveland.

Cleveland did not have space so they offered Exum to Houston (expiring contract) and took Prince.

New Jersey still needed to make more space. Offered Carris LeVert, (multi year contract) to the Pacers for Oladipo (expiring contract) and the trade was completed.

Harden actually hired negotiators to work out all of these details.

rusty - oh yeah I thought the Nets had the worst return for sure. That said, if they win a ring or 2 it will have been worth it to them.

I put myself in Houston"s place. They have to get rid of Harden. And they get Oladipo to replace him - not half bad replacement - coming off injury he's quite good. And they can just let him go if they want to. Plus all that draft capital??

So next time someone says that "letting the league know that someone is up for trade" is a bad strategy, this trade shows that is bull.

You know how important contracts are in the NBA. Houston hit the jackpot here.

The NBA is killing itself as far as I am concerned.

Star player decides to demand a trade. Arrives for season late because of business that needed to get done in strip clubs in Las Vegas and Atlanta. Arrives at least 15 lbs over weight from what he says is eating honey buns. Says he wants to play on the team with the most talent on the East Coast.

Guess what ? He gets traded to the team with the most talent on the East coast... NBA is a joke right now.

Lebron, Kyrie and Kawhi have almost killed this league with playing when they want to and owners allowing them to get away with it.

I would rather watch Magic, Larry and Michael reruns !

While I do agree with some of your assertions, agree they are obvious, the NBA is unique since one or two players can completely change team fortunes.

In MLB, well we have our own Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez to prove that 2 players can only do so much. Or how about Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout?

I still enjoy watching the NBA, and in some ways it is more entertaining than ever. It's more wide open, more athletic and more team oriented than it used to be (passing).

The Harden situation sucks, no two ways around that. But he did hold up Houston and IMO Houston ended up far better off with the assets they got back. Brooklyn will be an offensive juggernaut but as we know from the Cavs - 3 star players can be waaaay difficult to manage.

We will see.

Rusty, your explanation was almost more than I could understand! Thanks,

don't know if you guys are as ancient as me, well Vic Power must be, since he came before Vic D, but for reasons I don't recall I was talking about the original Cavs with my son recently, and remembered the great days at the Arena, when the new team even though playing about 1/3 of its games against fellow expansion Buffalo and Portland, went out and lost 15 in a row, won one, lost another dozen.

Now that was a great ball club.
Wesley and Rackley and the great Gary Suitar in the middle.
McCoy McLemore and Bingo Smith and JJ at forwards Dave Sorensen, Lenny Chappell for a couple weeks, then Larry Mikan
Johnny Warren and Bobby Lewis [Johnson here sometimes too] at guard; early on vet Johnny Egan and Cliff Anderson; Jumping Joe Cooke and Bobby Washington.

A few thousand chilly fans

TFIR wrote: Brooklyn will be an offensive juggernaut but as we know from the Cavs - 3 star players can be waaaay difficult to manage.

We will see.

rusty - and your old favorite will be that #3 guy - as good as he is he is #3 behind Harden and Durant.

And that's the role Kevin Love/Bosh etc took all that time to adapt to. Will he be able to handle that?

You are right. Basketball talent wise he has always been one of my favorites. I have never seen anyone that was almost unstoppable from the top of the key with the ball in his hands his rookie season.

Now, I just think he has issues. I really do not see anyone truly sacrificing scoring on this team until the playoffs and that is a maybe. I think they plan on being the New Jersey Globetrotters and out score every other team. Little defense but very entertaining if you like that style of play.

With Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash on the bench you are looking at the modern version of the Phoenix Suns. 5 seconds and a shot.

Apparently Cavs are giving up on Kevin Porter after bizarre behavior in the locker room and Koby Altman couldn't calm him down. Young man has tons of basketball talent and lots of psychological baggage. I hope he can get the help he needs and grew up well and successful. Very sorry it cannot be with the Cavs.

rusty - watching Sexton who just scored 18 straight points in the double overtime win vs. Kyrie and the Nets.

Of course we remember that Sexton was really the piece the Cavs targeted and got when they lost Kyrie. Payback time - Sexton over Kyrie in this game.

Sexton was fantastic. Cleveland teams are looking good. Maybe bodes well for the Indians !

great game by all 8 guys who played. The bench of Allen, Prince and Dotson was outstanding; they outscored Nets bench 47-10. Brooklyn has 3 superstars and little depth. And little defense.

Porter gone ! Basically for Civ's favorite player. Tr Ade Exemption and his brother Sala Ry Cap and his cousin Ros Ter Spot !