76ers finally trade James Harden to Clippers

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported, simply after 2 a.m. on the East Coast, that the 76ers had agreed to commerce Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. The group had lengthy been Harden’s most popular vacation spot, however the two groups’ commerce talks had did not make a deal after The Beard concurrently opted into his $35.6 million wage for 2023-24 and demanded a trade.

However after 4 contentious months, that includes Harden calling Sixers president Daryl Morey a “liar” in China, Harden mysteriously leaving the group simply earlier than the season and safety preventing Harden from boarding the group airplane for his or her highway journey, the Harden Period in Philadelphia is over.

Philadelphia traded for Harden in Feb. 2022, after he requested a commerce. That was 13 months after Brooklyn traded for Harden after he requested a commerce from the Houston Rockets. This time, Harden made it 16 months earlier than his commerce request, which can have been motivated by the 76ers’ refusal to supply him a most contract extension — and the Rockets’ unwillingness to signal him as properly.

Now Harden will be a part of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in his native Los Angeles, together with Russell Westbrook, who has been Harden’s teammate in Houston and Oklahoma Metropolis. All 4 of the Clippers’ veteran former All-Stars are within the remaining yr of their contracts, which can current some fascinating selections this summer season because the Clippers put together to maneuver into their new area, the Intuit Dome, subsequent fall.

Not solely that, the Clippers are including veteran P.J. Tucker — and the 2 years and $22.6 million remaining on his deal — as a part of the commerce.

The Sixers will add Marcus Morris, Nic Batum and Robert Covington, all veterans on expiring offers, together with 22-year-old KJ Martin, who the Clippers acquired earlier in the summertime. Covington started his profession for Morey’s Rockets, earlier than taking part in greater than 4 seasons for the Sixers from 2014-19.

Philadelphia additionally provides draft picks and a swap and preserves Morey’s plan for creating huge cap house this summer season. The Clippers do retain Terance Mann, as soon as the linchpin of a Harden deal for Philly, together with wing scorer Norman Powell.

Harden is a ten-time All-Star and the league MVP in 2018, however his previous couple of seasons have been marked by playoff disappointments and Harden forcing his manner off groups. In his final six years of playoff elimination video games, Harden has averaged 5 turnovers and shot lower than 25 p.c from three-point vary. Final yr, he shot 7-for-27 and 1-for-11 from deep within the Sixers’ final two losses to Boston, averaging simply ten factors.

Regardless, the Clippers are getting James Harden to pair with an previous, injury-prone however harmful veteran core. And better of all for the Clippers, since they made the commerce in late October, Harden would not have time to get disgruntled a requirement a commerce earlier than February. Though if anybody may do it, it is Harden.