Four months after his initial trade request, James Harden got what he wanted. The ten-time All Star is heading to the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster trade announced early Tuesday morning.
Final trade:
Clippers receive:
James Harden
PJ Tucker76ers receive:
Nicolas Batum
Marcus Morris
Robert Covington
KJ Martin
draft picks(Via Shams) pic.twitter.com/TJeZlP3o2p
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 31, 2023
Charania also noted that the Sixers are also receiving a 2026 first-round pick (via OKC), a 2028 first-round pick, two second-rounders and a pick swap from LA.
What the James Harden Trade Means for the Clippers and 76ers
The Clippers’ Perspective
The Clippers finally landed their top combo guard to join Kawhi Leonard and reunite him with Russell Westbrook and Paul George. They’re now even more stacked on the offensive side, with Harden potentially thriving as a scorer and facilitator next to the other three stars. His ability to shift roles and leave the scoring to others has proven relatively well in the past, but he’s embracing a new opportunity in LA. The Athletic’s Law Murray also noted that Harden could serve as “insurance” should Westbrook miss time with an injury.
Another win for the Clippers was successfully keeping Terance Mann out of negotiations with the Sixers. The 27-year-old is recovering from an ankle injury, but he will maintain his prominent role even with Harden joining the team.
Defensively, the addition of Harden now adds to the matchup nightmare for opponents, who previously had to worry about George and Leonard on the perimeter. Harden—though previously criticized for his lackluster effort on that end—could serve as a respectable defender next to PG and Kawhi. But once the Clippers force a turnover, the opponents better watch out.
The acquisitions of PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev appear minor for now, but both of them could be asked to contribute a decent amount off the bench this season. This holds true more for Tucker, who is now the team’s only other forward next to George, Leonard and Mann. Aside from that, it’ll be business as usual for the rest of the Clippers’ bench, as Westbrook, Norman Powell and Mason Plumlee continue to positively impact the team.
On paper, a 1-4 lineup of Westbrook, Harden, Leonard and George is enough to terrorize opponents beyond Halloween. Whether this team can break the previous curses of injuries and early playoff exits, however, is another story.
The 76ers’ Perspective
The Sixers received a plethora of forwards and picks to get rid of Harden, adding to their future assets and current frontcourt depth.
Marcus Morris Sr. has a chance to be an active player off the bench for Philly. Though he drew the ire of most Clippers fans, Morris’s last season with LA was productive. He started all 65 games he played and averaged 11.2 points on .426/.364/.782 splits. Though he’ll have to share opportunities with fellow Clippers, as well as Kelly Oubre Jr., Morris could make a positive impact early on for Nick Nurse.
Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington enhance the Sixers’ sharpshooting. Philadelphia sat atop of the leaderboard in three-point percentage last season at 38.7%. Adding two perimeter marksmen significantly bolsters their offense. Last season, both players averaged six points per game but shot 39% from distance. They’ll be able to help improve Philly’s bench scoring mark (16.6 PPG, 21st in the NBA last season) and three-point percentage (37.1%, 7th).
KJ Martin offers an athletic boost off the bench for Philly. The 22-year-old forward had a career year with the Clippers last season. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 57% shooting from the field and 31% from three. Martin will back up Tobias Harris at the wing, able to generate plenty of points in the paint and serve as a high-flying threat on fast breaks. Martin has also shown an ability to stretch the floor, but time will tell if his perimeter jumper gains consistency in a new system.
What’s Next for Philly?
Overall, Daryl Morey put together a good supporting cast around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the latter of whom is more than ready to take the reins now that Harden is gone. However, questions rightfully linger over whether this team is good enough to compete in a loaded Eastern Conference, even with the reigning MVP sticking around for three more years. Still, the Sixers may not be done dealing just yet. According to Sam Amick, the first phase of Morey’s post-Harden plan is complete.
The Last Word on the James Harden Trade
The Clippers emerged as winners of the Harden blockbuster, upgrading their roster with offensive firepower despite moving on from rotational contributors. Philadelphia, on the other hand, added three solid forwards and secured their future regardless of what’s next. How both of these teams fare going forward remains to be seen, but they’ve made a trade that will help them hold their own in two tough conferences.
