Report: Knicks' interest in James Harden 'far from uniform throughout the organization'

The 33-year-old should draw plenty of interest, with Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN already noting that the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks are expected to inquire about a potential Harden trade. Although it appears that, as an organization, the Knicks aren't completely aligned on making such a move. 

Shortly after Wojnarowski's report, SNY's Ian Begley confirmed the Knicks' and Clippers' interest in the former league MVP. However, Begley notes that New York's interest in Harden is "far from uniform" within the team's hierarchy.

Since Knicks president Leon Rose assumed the role in 2020, New York has strategically stockpiled assets and emphasized developing young talent in hopes of making the franchise an attractive destination. Rose began to become more aggressive last offseason, bringing in point guard Jalen Brunson, which was believed to be a poor decision at the time yet has clearly paid off.

Even so, Brunson is not among the upper-echelon of NBA stardom, and the Knicks are still searching for the piece to solidify themselves as a contender. While a Brunson-Harden backcourt could be successful, Harden has become more of a pass-first guard late in his career as opposed to the prolific scorer he was in his prime. 

Factor in Harden's age and recent playoff dud, and it's easy to see why some inside the Knicks organization are skeptical of a potential pursuit. Of course, the possibility of landing a future Hall of Famer at a discount might be too appealing. 

Harden, who averaged 21 points and an NBA-leading 10.7 assists per game last season, will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, which will diminish some of his trade value. 

On Thursday's episode of "SportsCenter," Wojnarowski said that he's "not sure how quickly" Harden's situation will play out. Though with free agency beginning Friday at 6 p.m. ET, negotiations should be swift.