Donovan Mitchell was had for 3 picks, two swaps, and spare parts and everyone here is getting good **** so I respectfully disagree. If Houston doesn’t really like Cam Whitmore and they’re signing Harden they will want players a lot more than reaching on prospects/picks and maybe developing them while Harden is in his mid-late thirties.
Houston desperately needs a real center and they get a real good one (an all-star nod ain’t nothing). Plus #16, an unselfish PG that plays top-level defense (they don’t have a real PG), and a stretch/point big (who also played very well for them not that long ago). Since it’s still a question mark of if their young guys are actually good or not, getting some good vets matters a lot. If their young guys are good, then this gives them needed depth. They can have #28 too, they can turn #16 and/or #28 into other vets if they want.
In any case, the point here is I’m not selling a farm for Amen. The deal has to be right. It’s a stretch for Houston but if I’m them and I’m getting Harden then I easily prefer this deal (a fringe all-star at the position of greatest need, other key roster holes plugged, picks) to drafting a dude a don’t love at #4.