3 teams that were interested in James Harden trade before his acquisition by Brooklyn Nets

James Harden has made a name for himself as one of the NBA's best players right now. But before he found his way to the Philadelphia 76ers in February, there were other teams wanting to acquire him.

In the 2020-21 season, Harden became frustrated and wanted to leave the Houston Rockets. He demanded a trade and later found himself with the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team deal. The trade helped The Beard become a full-time facilitator and have All-Star teammates after a few seasons of failed contention with Houston. (Nearly a year later, he was traded to the 76ers for Ben Simmons in February.)

However, before the trade came to fruition, there were other teams wanting his services. For a talented player like Harden, the Nets weren't the only team that wanted to have the 2017-18 MVP. His skillset and ability to lead a team was a big factor in the high number of suitors around the league.

Here are some of the teams that took an interest in Harden in 2021.

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James Harden was almost with the Joker

Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets

Before Nikola Jokic started winning MVPs, he was battling against Harden in the Western Conference. In 2021, they already had a duo of the Serbian big man and Jamal Murray, which was a problem to handle for most teams. But rumors involving The Beard remained a rumor and didn't push through.

There were no reports as to which assets the Nuggets were willing to move in order to acquire the 10-time All-Star. But the tandem between Jokic and Harden remains a "what if" situation.

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The Bucks almost formed a scary team with The Beard

Houston Rockets vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Even with their back-and-forth about being a skilled versus talented ball player, Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo almost became teammates. When the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year gave him a list of preferred destinations, Milwaukee was one of them. It was a surprise, given his opinion on Giannis' way of playing.

During that time, the Bucks made a notable acquisition in Jrue Holiday. It was a smart move as they improved their defense and won the title that season. It turns out they needed a good defender and not an offensive threat like Harden.

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An almost lefty combo of Zion Williamson and James Harden

Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers

The New Orleans Pelicans re-tooled their squad in 2021, and their decision to trade Holiday was one of their notable moves. In their efforts to make their team better, the Pelicans almost brought in the veteran All-Star to pair him with Zion Williamson for what could've been a fun duo.

Like the others on this list, they featured an incredible tandem that remains a "what if" situation. At least the All-Star Game is there to give us a peek of what could've been.