#Nets likely will need third team to complete James Harden deal

The Nets might not have enough to land James Harden, but the question is: Do they have enough to get what it takes to land him?

If the Nets can’t trade directly for Harden, they could — and most likely would — consider bringing in a partner for a three-team deal. The NBA Draft was Wednesday night, but Nets and Rockets fans should buckle up and brace themselves for a long, bumpy ride on this one.

Despite Harden’s clear intention of leaving Houston, and preference for coming to Brooklyn, the Rockets have signaled publicly that they don’t plan to trade him — and have signaled privately that if they do, it won’t be for anything less than a star.

Understandably emboldened by the return the Pelicans got for Jrue Holiday — a lesser player who netted them three first-round picks and two more first-round swaps — Houston will demand not just solid players or even an All-Star, but a bona fide MVP contending star.

The Rockets’ demand for a star could necessitate a three-team deal, because while the Nets have impressive depth, nobody on their roster, other than Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, fits that description.

“We’re willing to get uncomfortable,” a Rockets source said to ESPN, trying to shape the narrative and convey the message that they’d rather go into training camp and even the regular-season with Harden and Russell Westbrook on the roster than trade their disgruntled stars on the cheap.

It’s of course the appropriate thing to say, but it’s hardly likely to deter Nets general manager Sean Marks, even if he has no All-Stars to offer.

Former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is now the president of Basketball Operations with the 76ers and has Ben Simmons to offer. The Celtics have Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward. There are other stars throughout the NBA who could be more attractive than those the Nets can offer, but Harden has zeroed in on playing in Brooklyn.

Hence the loggerheads.

Houston could of course ask for Irving. Just because they ask doesn’t mean the Nets have to give — and it also doesn’t mean they have to give up.

The Nets have a deep roster of solid players, including Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, not to mention the 19th-overall selection in Wednesday’s draft and all their first-round picks going forward. While none fit the bill of star, the package could be enough to reroute the required star to Houston, and then send Harden on to Brooklyn.

Acquiring Harden wouldn’t be easy, and isn’t likely to be quick. And if it eventually happens, it certainly won’t be cheap either, in terms of assets or finances.

Nets owner Joe Tsai is the second-richest owner in the NBA, but the e-commerce billionaire will have to dig deep into his pockets to fund a contender, and even deeper to bring the three-time scoring champion to Brooklyn.

Joe Harris is an unrestricted free agent, but the feeling around the NBA is that the former 3-point shooting champion is likely to stay put in Brooklyn. A deal in the $12 million range annually is expected to see the Nets face a luxury tax bill in the neighborhood of $50 million.

Harden would make that neighborhood look poor.

A Harris contract at $18 million would mean the Nets would be paying $82 million in luxury tax, according to ex-Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks. But Marks — now ESPN’s cap guru — said adding Harden could see that bloat to a mind-bending $148 million, and opined they could be facing the prospect of becoming the first $300 million team in NBA history.