NBA Insider Believes James Harden Could Join The Lakers

James Harden could be on his way to the Lakers, as predicted by Kendrick Perkins on ESPN.

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Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 free agency class isn’t as stacked with talent as some of the older classes were, with the biggest prizes this year being James Harden and Kyrie Irving, two players who most contending teams can’t afford.

The Lakers’ pursuit of Kyrie over the last season fizzled out and a sign-and-trade to join LA looks unlikely. That doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t look into acquiring Harden, as ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes Harden to the Lakers is a possibility this summer.

Perkins also predicted that Bradley Beal would join the Celtics and Fred VanVleet would join Philly to replace Harden. How the Lakers can work out the finances to bring Harden in was not explained, as the same concerns around gutting your roster for Kyrie would apply to Harden.


Would James Harden To The Lakers Be A Good Deal?

Given Harden has been widely expected to sign with the Houston Rockets and eat up their empty cap space, there is no indication as to Harden wanting to take a pay cut to remain with a contender. He already did that last season when he declined a $47.4 million player option for last season to re-sign for $33 million. This allowed the 76ers to sign PJ Tucker and gave Harden a player option for $35.6 million this summer.

The Lakers can muster up about $33 million in cap space if they renounce all their free agents not named Austin Reaves. Trying to fill out their roster with minimums for a very old top-three and Reaves will not be smart, even though Harden can provide LeBron James with the on-ball relief he has craved in the last few seasons.

Harden led the league in assists this season and averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. He had some big playoff games with 40-point performances in wins against the Boston Celtics, but he ultimately disappeared when the team needed him most. The Lakers could be interested in acquiring Harden, but this is not a realistic possibility.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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