In this trade, the Clippers acquired James Harden, a 10-time All-Star guard, to join their star-studded lineup, which already includes Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook.
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After months of uncertainty, and Harden being denied entry on the 76ers’ team charter plane to begin the season, the long overdue, and highly anticipated Harden trade finally happened. The Philadelphia 76ers rocked the basketball universe and NBA betting in Pennsylvania by sending the controversial and 34-year old Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. This trade fulfills Harden’s previous trade request and marks his fourth team in four seasons.
In this trade, the Clippers acquired James Harden, a 10-time All-Star guard, to join their star-studded lineup, which already includes Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook and Harden were teammates with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City during the Thunder’s Western Conference Finals run defeat against the Warriors in 2016.
The Clippers sent several players, including Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Kenyon Martin Jr., and a package of draft picks to the 76ers in exchange for Harden. The deal also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harden, known for his scoring and play-making abilities, provides the Clippers with another high-profile addition as they aim for their first NBA championship. The trade agreement has been the culmination of months of rumors linking Harden with the Clippers.
With Kawhi Leonard eager to rebound from his injury-plagued seasons, the Clippers now have three legitimate first scoring options. Because Harden and Leonard are accustomed to having the ball in their hand, it will be interesting to see how and if Leonard and Harden can mesh their talents. For Paul George, who plays off the ball normally, he can expect more wide open looks due to the constant double teams that Harden and Leonard are bound to get.
However, some consider Harden off having a history of being too selfish, and he is often blamed for the Rocket’s playoff failures in recent years. Harden was brought to Philadelphia to finally be the second scorer that Embiid needed to get the 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since their NBA Finals run in 2001 with Allen Iverson.
For the 76ers, this trade represents a significant change, and they are now focusing on building a new roster around MVP Joel Embiid and emerging star Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers received several players and draft picks, including the Clippers’ 2026 first-round pick. With so many draft picks, don’t be surprised if the 76ers trade for another proven scorer before the trade deadline.
James Harden’s journey to the Clippers comes after a series of events involving trade requests, disagreements with the 76ers’ front office, and his absence from the team at the start of the season. He is now an unrestricted free agent after this season. This trade is expected to have a major impact on both the Clippers and the 76ers, as well as the broader landscape of the NBA. It will be interesting to see how the teams perform with their new rosters in the upcoming season and it affects the playoff and free agency landscape.
