Should the Los Angeles Clippers be concerned about their results since the blockbuster James Harden trade? The former Philadelphia 76ers star’s stint in the City of Angels has been off to a terrible start, to say the least. 4x NBA All-Star and former Clipper DeMarcus Cousins in an interview with SHOWTIME Basketball was asked if he would make the same moves if he were the Clippers following this season’s disappointing start. Without a doubt, he said, he would repeat the entire process.
It’s evident that this roster will require a great deal of seasoning if it is to have any chance of winning a title. Chemistry doesn’t develop quickly, especially when a heavy-usage star arrives during the season.
DeMarcus Cousins claims trades are important for rebuilding
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The Clippers acquired 10x NBA All-Star James Harden along with P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev from the 76ers for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin. While people said the Clippers easily won this trade considering what they had to give up, it isn’t looking too good for the LA side currently.
DeMarcus Cousins, who played for the Clippers for a few months, emphasized in the interview why trades were vital for the team’s foundation. Harden was extremely necessary for the team to take that next step and compete for the championship alongside Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook.
The host of the show asked DeMarcus if he would make the trades all over again following the LA Clippers’ disappointing start, to which DeMarcus replied, “Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. Uh, setting your foundation around Paul Geroge and Kawhi Leonard, I think any team in the league, if they had the opportunity to do it, would do the same thing.”
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He added, “I don’t?think their issue has been about what pieces they put around them; it’s always been about health. They’ve always had a chance every single season. It’s just for some reason they can’t get over this health bug. But like I said, I think any organization in the league had a chance to do this they would do.”
The Clippers have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams over the last four seasons, owing mostly to injuries to both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Not only did George’s physical health suffer, but he also needed therapy for mental health issues. The hopes of the Clippers fans have been at an all-time high after the Harden trade but it hasn’t worked out yet.
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A bad start for James Harden in LA
The Los Angeles Clippers’ season is still in its early stages, and they will be experimenting with new recruit James Harden for some time. They are on a five-game losing run and have not won since acquiring James Harden. It’s not just that they are losing, the performances of all their stars have been poor. But this is not an unprecedented situation.
When LeBron James took his talents to Miami, the Heat started 9-8 before finally getting things together and reaching the Finals. So there is still a long way to go for this Harden trade to work out.
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Fans of the team have been underwhelmed by how the Harden deal has played out so far. When the Clippers opted to trade for the 10x All-Star, they were already regaining their rhythm. Do you think they can make a comeback and win the championship this season?
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