Following a blockbuster trade the Nets have pushed all their chips into the center of the table and launched themselves into win-now mode. Three time NBA scoring champion James Harden will join superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn to form a big three that rivals any before it and win the NBA championship. 

With the addition of Harden the Nets now possess a trifecta that combines for 23 All-Star appearances, 19 All-NBA teams, and 3 NBA championships. It’s safe to say the team has no shortage of hardware, but will the three be enough to pry the O’Brien from the defending champion Lakers?

Harden was averaging 24.8 PPG with the Rockets this season, the lowest it has been since his days in Oklahoma and is looking to get back on track in his new home. Notoriously known as a ball-dominant scoring machine, finding a bucket for himself was hardly a problem during his tenure in Houston. But there seems to be an underlying theme with James and playing well with others.

Prior to leaving Houston, Harden had stints teaming up with passing maestro Chris Paul and triple-double machine Russell Westbrook respectively with both stars failing to mesh with Harden’s style of play. The possible difference-maker is that while CP3 and Russ lacked the ability to shoot at an elite clip or create scoring opportunities without the ball both Durant and Kyrie possess an assortment of offensive tools that will gel seamlessly.

Let it not be mistaken Kevin Durant is no stranger to playing with James Harden, initially sharing the hardwood with “The Beard” when he was just “The Stubble”. Though their time playing together in Oklahoma was brief there was no doubt that the two were going to be something special. Yet both took their respective games to the next level when James was shipped off to the Rockets in 2012. KD grew into an unstoppable multi-level scorer and Harden became the face of his franchise, lighting up the league with his deadly isolation scoring and countless free throw trips.

While it’s supposed to be a big three, lately PG Kyrie Irving is nowhere to be seen, missing six straight games due to “personal reasons.” He hasn’t been struggling in the least, averaging 27.1 points per game on elite shooting, but lately Irving’s been seen anywhere, except on the court. It is unknown when he will return to action as there have been questions on how he and Harden will coexist on the court. Both are primary ball-handlers and rely on holding the rock to score and create plays, only time will tell whether they coalesce or conflict.