?Westbrook.. Your 4th Best Option!??: James Harden Trade to Clippers Has Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner Ecstatic for Ex-MVPs

The James Harden trade saga finally came to a close as he got traded to the Los Angeles Clippers this Tuesday. That was what the former MVP wanted all along. As a part of the Clippers roster, Harden will get a chance to play alongside several Championship caliber players, including Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He will also reunite with his former teammate, Russell Westbrook.

Retired NBA stars Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner were ecstatic about the two former MVPs, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, teaming up in LA.

Los Angeles Clippers the new Powerhouse in the West?

Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner addressed the blockbuster James Harden trade in their Point Forward podcast. The two players wondered how The Beard?s addition to an already stacked Clippers team would pan out. ?Westbrook being your 4th best option will be pretty crazy.? Turner pointed out. Westbrook is a former MVP, and it is crazy to think he is not even the top 3 options on a roster. Even though Russ is not an MVP-caliber player anymore, he has a lot left in the tank. Westbrook averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 assists for the Clippers last season and helped them stay afloat in the playoffs in Kawhi and PG?s absence.

Now that both Kawhi and PG are completely healthy, Tyronn Lue has the option to use Westbrook as the leader of the Clippers? second unit. The addition of Harden also gives the Clippers a lot of wiggle room to adjust their rotation, as both Russ and Harden can facilitate the offense and be the court general whenever required. The Clippers have the potential to become the new powerhouse in the Western Conference.

But what about Westbrook and Harden’s relationship? With the two guards having shared a tumultuous time in Houston, will they be able to work together again?

James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s chemistry

One big upside of the James Harden trade is that he has already been teammates with Russell Westbrook on two separate occasions. The Beard started his career with the OKC Thunder and helped Westbrook reach the NBA finals in 2012. The two former MVPs teamed up again in Houston years later, but this time Harden was the one running the show. Both guards made the All-Star team playing together during the 2019-20 season. Harden averaged an insane 34.3 points that year, and Russ was not far behind with 27.2 points and 7 assists.

Read More: What Does James Harden Trade Mean for Joel Embiid?s Future?With?the?76ers?

Seeing the two MVPs scoring average as teammates, it is clear that the two know how to play together, and their chemistry will translate for the Clippers as well. Westbrook and Harden can shine in LA as they are no longer the primary scoring options in the team. The defenders will be more focused on Kawhi and Paul George, and this will allow the two former MVPs to take over the game whenever required.

Both Harden and Westbrook are hungry to win their first career championship, and they will hope to achieve that goal together in LA.

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