There was a time when the Milwaukee Bucks were mentioned as a legitimate suitor for All-Star guard James Harden. While it was hard not to think about the possible upside of adding a former MVP and one of the best scorers ever, Harden's playoff woes were always the deterring factor. Now, despite all of the time that has passed, the Bucks are still vindicated for not making those rumors a reality.
Harden and Bucks were linked at one point
When James Harden was seeking a trade from the Houston Rockets in 2020, the Bucks were among his preferred landing spots, as reported by former The Athletic writer Shams Charania (subscription required). While a trade was always unlikely, given that the Bucks had just sold the farm for star guard Jrue Holiday, it couldn't be ruled out entirely.
The Milwaukee Bucks were on a mission that offseason. After being upset by the Miami Heat, they knew they had to make moves to keep Giannis happy. Those moves included trading for Holiday and making a move for Bogdan Bogdanovic. Well, at least they did until the deal was called off. After they lost him, it wouldn't have been surprising if they pivoted to Harden. They were desperate enough.
Thankfully, they did not.
Harden's playoff woes are still hindering him
In his last six trips to the NBA Playoffs since that rumor, Harden has steadily declined. The once-lethal bucket-getter has averaged 19.7 points on 42 percent shooting, including 35.8 percent from 3-point land. His defense hasn't shielded his scoring woes, either. He's never been a stalwart on that side of the floor, and it's only amplified these issues.
No one is expecting a nearly 37-year-old Harden to be Cleveland's needle-mover, but his showing in Game 1 against the New York Knicks was a clear reminder of his postseason shortcomings. He tallied just 15 points on 16 shot attempts with six turnovers. In addition to that, the Knicks could form a whole highlight reel of scoring plays just from when Harden was their primary defender.
The Cavaliers are learning a hard lesson that the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, 76ers, and Clippers were all already aware of. It's one that the Milwaukee Bucks should be glad they never had to learn firsthand. It will always help that they won a title immediately after opting not to entertain obliging Harden and bringing him to Milwaukee.
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