The James Harden trade saga has been one of the biggest topics of conversation in the NBA world this offseason. The Philadelphia 76ers guard’s decision to ask out of the franchise has prompted several teams to pursue the talents of the 10-time All-Star. However, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites for landing the former MVP.
The Clippers have been a different team since their “Lob City” era ended. They have aggressively pursued NBA superstars to lead them to the coveted NBA championship. Their vigorous pursuit struck gold in 2019, when they acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, one after the other. However, 4 years after this momentous front-office move, they are yet to win a championship. Due to their knack for signing NBA superstars, James Harden has been linked to the franchise on several occasions.
Recently, an NBA legend too weighed in on this matter, endorsing the idea of Harden in Los Angeles.
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NBA legend weighs in on the James Harden situation
James Harden has played for four teams in his illustrious career. However, despite his legendary resume, The Beard could not win a championship with any of those franchises. His quest for a championship also prompted him to ask out of the Sixers franchise. With Harden’s talent, teaming up with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook might seem like a guaranteed championship shot. However, the Clippers seem “unserious” about acquiring the NBA Top 75 list member.
In a recent interview, NBA legend, Baron Davis weighed in on the Harden situation. The former Clipper, in fact, endorsed the idea of Harden on the Clippers’ roster. “Yeah, I think that would be dope“, he said.
The leader of the “We Believe” Warriors also talked about Harden’s fit on the Clippers roster. “The Clippers need another playmaker, somebody who can get fouled, slow the game down”, he stated. He also went on to mention “They already got Paul George, Kawhi….. Russ is back, so having James is just another dimension and just another level to how they compete, you know, bonafide contender“.
He was also in high praise for the former MVP. He said, “Anybody can use a playmaker like James Harden. He’s went from back-to-back MVP or candidate for MVP to All-Star. I think last year, he had one of his best years as a point guard. James is one of the most versatile offensive weapons that we’ve seen in a long time and I think he can fit in anywhere, especially the Clippers“.
Davis had his say about James Harden’s fit with the Clippers. However, can the Clippers suit Harden’s interests?
The Clippers have not been keen on acquiring The Beard
James Harden has been trying to get to Los Angeles to make a championship run. He has also stated the Clippers as his preferred landing spot. However, the Clippers have not shown the same amount of interest.
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The Clippers made several moves over the past 4 years to strengthen their roster. They have also not shied away from signing star players to surround their perennial All-Star duo. In this effort, they acquired the former MVP, Russell Westbrook, through free agency. However, with their current roster pieces, the Clippers might not be able to make a push to sign Harden.
The Sixers would be looking for a significant offer to trade Harden, given his value on the trade market. While the Sixers have high expectations from the trade offer, they might not find the Clippers to possess enough desirable assets. The Clippers too, have not shown enough interest in trading for Harden, claiming he does not generate “franchise-defining clout” anymore.
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With the buzz around Harden’s trade to the Clippers dying out, one cannot be sure of the 33-year-old’s next destination. Although a starting lineup of George, Leonard, Westbrook and Harden may seem surreal, the potential of this coming to life may not be too strong.