The Clippers fans got an early treat when James Harden posted a series of photos from the mini camp he hosted in Arizona. Several teammates of ‘The Beard’ were also in attendance. What excited everyone was how an in-form Harden looked (and the hair). And with the situation LA finds itself in ahead of the 2024-25 season, the vet guard will have to ensure he is in peak form. The LA side has lost and gained in the space of a few months – the exit of Paul George and Russell Westbrook, and their brand-new arena, respectively.

And with the latest update on Kawhi Leonard’s preparation for the season being delayed, it won’t be surprising that James finds himself with a full plate. That’s exactly what Coach Lue has in mind. In the latest update by Justin Russo, Ty had mentioned what he expected from The Beard. “Tyronn Lue, with a smirk, on the added responsibility for James Harden with the key departures from the team this offseason: “More pick-and-rolls. Scoring the basketball more, taking more shots.””

Needless to say, with two key players off the roster, Harden has effectively become the target for the opponents. More importantly, as Lue pointed out, he will have to assume majority responsibility. For starters, the offense would run through him.

Without ‘Beastbrook’ the 2018 MVP would likely become the primary ball-handler as well as the floor general. Running pick-and-rolls with the Clippers bigs or even versatile smaller players would become a regular sight. And James Harden’s decision-making in the pick-and-roll would be crucial in creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Moreover, it would also increase his playmaking duties. There’s no doubt that the team would turn to James Harden to create openings.

As for Lue’s next point, Harden is going to miss PG a lot. With George on the floor, the Clippers had an All-Star caliber scorer who could drop 22 any given night. Now that he is going to have to play against him, James Harden will have to shoulder the bulk of scoring, particularly in crunch time. But lucky for LA, the man is a versatile scorer. A combination of his signature step-back 3s, driving to the basket, and drawing fouls at a higher rate would be a great means to getting those shots in.

But perhaps what is really going to be the difference maker here is Harden’s ingenuity in getting to the free throw line. The man ranks sixth in the All-Time Free Throw Leaders with 7,659 made free throws. But if we were to just consider the active players, James Harden ranks second, right behind LeBron James!

Finally, the 3rd key role – taking more shots. Once again, the 3x scoring champion’s ability to create his own shot is going to be essential here. He would have to take more shots in each game, both in isolation and off-screen. Granted, when Kawhi Leonard is on the floor, James Harden might get a respite.

Or their latest addition, Derrick Jones Jr. is also an elite shot creator, playing a key role in the Mavs‘ deep playoff run. But at the end of the day, the 2009 first-round pick is going to have to step up.

Can Derrick Jones Jr. provide relief to James Harden stepping into the void left by PG?

Well, if you ask DJ, his answer is, “We’re not even making it like that… The guys in here now, we’re going to come in and be aggressive and do what we gotta do and, like I said, try to bring back a championship.” But when all is said and done, the Clippers did bring in Jones to step into the role of Paul George. Known primarily for his defensive tenacity, the Clippers’ front office sought to replace a little of the depth the team lost when their 2x All-Defensive First Teamer departed with Derrick.

As mentioned above, his shot-making ability did play a crucial role in Dallas’ Finals run. He is coming off a solid season with the Mavericks, averaging 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, shooting an impressive 48.3% from the field and 34.3% from the three-point line. Moving to the playoffs, too, ‘Flight 55’ showcased a remarkable stat line – averaging more than 9 points and 3 rebounds while upping his three-point shooting at 36.9%! In addition, he also earned his position as a starter in the final battle against Boston.

Moreover, Jones also showed flashes of being a consistent scorer in both regular and postseason. While the 27-year-old might not necessarily replicate George’s production, there is no doubt that he can ease the burden. But what he truly brings to the table is elite defense.

As Lawrence Frank quoted in his statement, “We are going to have a tenacious defense this season and DJJ will be a huge part of it.”

Side note, though, Derrick HATES being called DJJ.