The Clippers seem taken aback by James Harden’s expressed desire to leave Los Angeles. His announcement reportedly left the team “stunned,” as mentioned by multiple sources.
As per reports, there are discussions between the Cavaliers and Clippers regarding a potential trade that would send Harden to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland. However, no deal had been finalized as of Tuesday morning.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue chose not to comment specifically on the trade scenario but acknowledged Harden’s significant role in the team. “He’s important to us,” Lue remarked, referencing their experiences over the past three years. When asked if he would like to continue having Harden on the roster, Lue responded, “Who wouldn’t want James Harden?”
It’s interesting to note that Harden’s career has seen him with several teams—if this trade goes through, he would join his fifth team since the 2020-21 season.
The Clippers began the season poorly but made a comeback, finishing with a record of 23-26 and qualifying for the play-in tournament, which is presumably a part of their unexpected turnaround. It’s curious how the team now faces the prospect of trading one of its standout players.
Reportedly, Harden’s main sticking point is his desire for a fully guaranteed two-year, $80 million contract. The Clippers, however, are cautious about committing to such a deal, especially with Harden entering what would be his 38-year-old season.
Harden’s previous contract, worth $81.5 million, only guarantees $13.3 million for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the Clippers are reportedly prioritizing their cap space for the 2027 season. This makes it tricky to allocate a substantial part of that cap to a player like Harden at this stage in his career.
Trade discussions have been ongoing for a few weeks, as Harden seeks a fresh start. He recently missed games against the Suns and 76ers for “personal reasons,” and time is running out with the NBA trade deadline approaching this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
As for potential trades, acquiring Garland could be advantageous for the Clippers, complementing the existing duo of Harden and Donovan Mitchell, given Garland’s impressive scoring stats despite injury battles. Meanwhile, Harden is eyeing the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves as alternative destinations, but it appears both teams have reservations as well.
Interestingly, Harden has expressed disinterest in being traded to either the Raptors or Pelicans, despite those teams showing interest. As the trade deadline looms, he holds a trade kicker and veto power that might complicate negotiations.
With the Clippers set to face the Cavaliers in what could be a pivotal game before the deadline, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Harden and Garland.
Harden is currently in his third season with the Clippers following a trade from the 76ers at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
