Another Harden trade: How things look for the Clippers, 76ers, and Thunder
The latest James Harden saga is over now that the Philadelphia 76ers granted the former MVP’s wish by trading him to the Los Angeles Clippers. Here’s how the deal breaks down for all parties involved.
Clippers
Incoming: Harden, P.J. Tucker, Filip Petrusev
Outgoing: Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris Sr., Kenyon Martin Jr., 2024 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick swap (to OKC), 2028 1st-rounder, 2029 2nd-rounder, 2029 pick swap
Under normal circumstances, we’d be lauding an all-in team for turning a few reserves and some draft capital into a former MVP who led the league in assists last season while averaging 21 points on nearly 61% true shooting. Unfortunately, nothing about acquiring Harden constitutes normal circumstances. The 10-time All-Star is a tricky locker-room fit about to join his fourth team in the last four years after three trade requests during that time. And he’s in a contract year.
Assuming the Clippers receive a focused and fully engaged Harden now that the Los Angeles native is home, his diminishing on-court abilities and pattern of postseason no-shows are still issues.
But enough with the bad news. Surely, The Beard can still bring value to a Clippers team seeking its first Finals berth in franchise history. The question is what that will look like.
Since acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019, the Clippers have been on the hunt for a point guard – a table-setter who can keep the team’s offense flowing, get the ball to the Clippers’ two superstars in the right spots, and generally play sound basketball. That fruitless quest eventually led them to Russell Westbrook, another fading hometown star.
In fairness to Westbrook, the 2017 MVP has been a positive through the first week of the new season, striking a balance between his own well-timed offense and the needs of his starrier teammates. Westbrook’s efficiency has benefited from shouldering much less of the offense, moving without the ball more than he ever has before, trading pull-up jumpers for more of the catch-and-shoot variety, and taking more of his 3-point attempts from the corners. Though his turnover rate remains too high and a three-game sample is extremely small, Westbrook has mostly given the Clippers what they need from that position with Leonard and George in the fold.
Rather than relying on Westbrook maintaining that responsible brand of play and using their few remaining assets to address other deficiencies, the Clippers veered in another direction. Harden’s still an excellent playmaker who has averaged double-digit assists in each of the last three seasons, but he’ll command a bigger piece of the offensive pie than Westbrook was consuming.
Harden’s pick-and-roll savvy will help starting center Ivica Zubac find easier scoring opportunities, and when Harden’s jumper is falling, he’ll give the Clippers another devastating shot-creator and tough-shot maker – something playoff teams can never have enough of.
But at this stage of his career, Harden can’t beat his man off the dribble and create advantages as often as he used to, especially against the upper-tier perimeter defenders he’ll see more of in the postseason. Even if he’s still a borderline All-Star, it’s hard to believe Harden can reach the level necessary to justify taking the ball out of the hands of Leonard and George as often as he will.
Meanwhile, it will be fascinating to see whether a move to the bench allows Westbrook to feast on opposing reserves or if being able to dominate the ball again brings out his worst tendencies.
In swapping out Covington for Tucker, the Clippers maintained defensive versatility. Tucker is the stronger, more durable option and a better shooter from the corners, where Harden can still create opportunities for him. Though only 6-foot-5, the burly Tucker has also had success guarding up against Nikola Jokic, who has shredded the Clippers’ defense in the past. The Clippers are also now better built for five-out lineups on both ends of the court.
In the end, the Clippers improved, are arguably better equipped to challenge the Nuggets than they were yesterday, and didn’t have to give up Terance Mann. Still, they didn’t boost their title chances as much as one might assume just by looking at Harden’s numbers.
76ers
Incoming: Covington, Batum, Morris, Martin, 2024 2nd-round pick, 2026 1st-rounder (from OKC), 2028 1st-rounder, 2029 2nd-rounder, 2029 pick swap
Outgoing: Harden, Tucker, Petrusev, Danny Green (waived)
Put aside Harden’s resume and Philadelphia’s ceiling in an alternate universe where Harden could’ve happily returned to the lineup, and you’ll find the Sixers actually did quite well for themselves.
They’re a deeper, more balanced team today, and they’re set up to make an even bigger splash at some point in the near future. By shedding Tucker’s $11.5-million player option for next season while acquiring four players on expiring contracts, Sixers president Daryl Morey added to Philly’s plethora of 2024 cap space.
Between Joel Embiid’s salary, Tyrese Maxey’s cap hold, Jaden Springer’s team option, and non-guaranteed deals for Paul Reed and Petrusev, the Sixers can use more than $55 million in cap space before re-signing Maxey. With names such as Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, Klay Thompson, and DeMar DeRozan headed for free agency, the Sixers will be well-positioned to construct a new-look contender around Embiid and Maxey. Even with two-way guard De’Anthony Melton’s cap hold on the books, Philly can still get to nearly $40 million in space.
While the promise of next summer is tantalizing, Embiid is more concerned with the Sixers’ ability to field a genuine contender in the present. The Harden trade helps in that regard too – between the extra draft capital acquired from the Clippers and Thunder and the midsize salaries of Morris, Batum, and Covington, Philadelphia is well-positioned to make a significant win-now deal before this season’s trade deadline.
Beyond the additional depth and flexibility, Harden’s departure clears the path for Maxey’s continued ascension to stardom. The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week is ready for his moment, with the shooting, speed, and playmaking to perfectly complement Embiid on the offensive end. The inside-out game of their new Big Two already gives the Sixers the offensive floor of at least a fringe contender, with Embiid practically a top-10 defense unto himself.
There’s less margin for error with two stars as opposed to three, but Embiid and Maxey should keep Philly on the fringes of the title hunt, while Morey is now better armed to find them that third star via trade this season and/or free agency next year.
Thunder
Incoming: 2027 1st-round pick swap from LAC
Outgoing: 2026 1st-rounder to PHI
The 2026 first-rounder headed to Philly is the least favorable of the Thunder’s picks that year, reports PHLY Sports’ Derek Bodner – a set that includes OKC’s own first-rounder, a Clippers pick, and a top-four protected Rockets pick (plus any additional protected first-rounders from prior years that carried over). Meanwhile, the Thunder can now swap the worst of their multiple first-rounders in 2027 for the Clippers’ pick that year, when Leonard and George will either be long gone or in their late 30s.
It’s a smart bet on the Clippers’ regression leading to some surplus value for a collection of Oklahoma City draft capital that is already the envy of the league. The Thunder look like a formidable team in the present, but when they eventually start using their unfathomable stockpile of future assets in trades, they can transform into a downright juggernaut.
Joseph Casciaro is theScore’s senior content producer.
