The Los Angeles Clippers are hard at work in the trade market trying to find a way they can acquire disgruntled 76ers’ guard James Harden. Harden reportedly wants to join the Clippers, but the team isn’t willing to give up a haul of assets.
Zach Lowe revealed on his podcast that he’s heard the Clippers don’t want to part with draft picks, young guard Terance Mann, or even Norman Powell in a Harden trade.
“The Clippers, from what I have heard, are reluctant to offer Mann, picks, maybe even Powell. And I don’t know that the two sides have really even had super significant dialogue, and I don’t know what you do from there.”
The 76ers are not rebuilding, they’re a win-now team that needs quality on their roster to make a title run with reigning league MVP Joel Embiid. Losing Harden could be a devastating blow if they can’t get an adequate package in return. Robert Covington and Marcus Morris Sr. are not needle-movers, so the Clippers will have to do something better.
Is It Worth Chasing James Harden?
James Harden is a spectacular NBA player and one of the greats of his generation. But at the age of 34, Harden shouldn’t carry the same value he once did. He’s the league leader in assists, so he is definitely a positive player. But given his recent history of constantly leaving teams, no one would be comfortable parting with future assets for a player on an expiring contract.
Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in a solid regular season for the team. He inevitably disappeared in the playoffs, marking his inconsistency by dropping 40+ points in certain wins and then shooting under 30% the next game.
The Clippers can’t just punt on the development of Terance Mann and give up more picks just as they’re about to finish paying for the 2019 trade to acquire Paul George. Ultimately, it seems superstars get their way, and Harden could find his way onto LAC. It’s just going to be a long road to that point.
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