Step back and think about the question at hand:
Is a talented wing who’s 24 and played out his rookie contract without an all-star appearance worth trading with a number of our first-round picks for an MVP, first-ballot HOFer who is 31 and coming off three straight scoring titles? BTW, Harden had more assists last year than all but six players, too (second most among non-PGs, behind only Doncic if you consider LeBron a PG). I know a lot of us live on the east coast, so really only get to watch the Rockets twice per year against us, but Harden is perhaps the best offensive player of his generation. And he’s still only 31 and hungry for a title so he does not join Malone, Stockton, Miller and Ewing.
Now if the Rockets insist on including Smart, that’s a different question because we need a backcourt where the best defender is always handled by Smart so Harden can focus his energies winning his fourth straight scoring title, and hopefully averaging a double-double as a PG again.
Frankly, everyone but Tatum and Smart should be on the table. Let us know, Houston. We’re ready for Harden.