Big deal: Nets land Harden

James Harden is heading to Brooklyn, joining old teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to give the Nets a potent trio of the some of the NBA’s highest scorers.

The Nets agreed to acquire the three-time scoring champion from the Rockets on Wednesday in a move he has sought for weeks.

Harden is the centerpiece of a four-team deal that also involves the Pacers and Cavaliers.

The Nets now will be able to trot out a lineup of three players capable of scoring 25 or more points on any night in a collection of firepower to rival any Big Three in recent years.

It provides a needed boost amid a period of drama for both teams, struck less than 24 hours after Harden seemed to deliver a farewell address of sorts following the Rockets’ game Tuesday night, and just before Irving missed a fifth straight game during a personal absence from the Nets.

At least four draft picks and additional pick swaps are also part of the deal. Other key players: Victor Oladipo goes from the Pacers to the Rockets, and Caris LeVert goes from the Nets to the Pacers. The Cavs will get Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from the Nets in the deal.

Harden and Durant played together with the Thunder when they were younger and remain close still.

This season, Durant is averaging 29.9 points in his return from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Irving was scoring 27.1 per game before leaving the team last week for personal reasons. Harden, who appears to be out of shape after joining the Rockets after training camp began, is averaging 24.8 this season after three straight seasons above 30.

Harden reported late for camp. He also was fined $50,000 earlier this season for conduct detrimental to the league related to him not following this season’s health and safety protocols.

STEVE DYKES/AP