The Clippers are putting everything on the line by trading for James Harden. If a championship is going to be won by this core it needs to happen now.
Why The James Harden Trade Is The Clippers Last Chance
A Team Of What If’s
For the past few years, the Clippers have had a core that revolves around star players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. When you add in the fact that the Clippers have done a good job surrounding the duo with good support players, then you have to wonder why the team has been so disappointing in the postseason.
When Kawhi and George have shared the court they have been dominant, posting an 86-37 record when they play together. If you applied their winning percentage to a full regular season then the Clippers would be a 57-win team. This is great until you consider that three seasons have passed since the tandem joined forces. 123 games played out of 255 (not including the playoffs) is a pitiful total, and it’s the biggest reason why the Clippers can’t make a deep playoff run.
Despite the bad luck, the Clippers have given up their entire future for this current roster, so there is no turning back. The Clippers have officially doubled down on their championship hopes by trading for James Harden. This should make the Clips a serious contender, but when you consider their previous luck you have to wonder if this will blow up in their face.
Paper Tigers Or The Real Deal?
When looking over the James Harden trade, even a casual observer could see that this seriously bolsters the Clippers roster. A hypothetical lineup of James Harden, Norman Powell, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac is one of the most complete starting fives in basketball. Not only that, but with bench depth such as Russell Westbrook, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, and Mason Plumlee, the Clippers can run an assortment of lineups to combat the other powerhouse teams in the league.
Great defensive versatility, size, and shooting, and now they finally have an elite playmaker to tie everything together, this should be the Clippers year right? When it comes to basketball the concept can be a lot better than the actual product. While the Clippers with Harden look fantastic, you can’t help but dig deeper and ask some questions. Will Kawhi and George be able to stay healthy? Will Harden get disgruntled and ask for yet another trade? How will Kawhi and George’s expiring contracts come into play?
The Last Word
The Clippers made the right choice going all in on this core, but that doesn’t change how risky this deal is. Time will tell if the stars finally align for the Clippers or if this is the final nail in the coffin for the Kawhi and PG era.
