Sources – The Clippers are adding James Harden in a blockbuster deal with the 76ers
The LA Clippers earned 10-time All-Star guard James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday evening, sources told ESPN.
The 76ers sent Harden, PJ Tucker And Filip Petrusev to the Clippers for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martinan unprotected 2028 first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap and an additional first-round pick traded by a third team, sources told ESPN.
The Clippers and a third team were still finalizing those details late Monday night, sources said.
The Sixers will be without the veteran guard Danny Green to free up roster space for trades, sources said.
The Clippers brought in Harden to partner with the All-Star forwards Kawhi Leonard And Paul Georgeas well as guard Russell Westbrookwho played with Harden on the Oklahoma City Thunder And Houston Rockets. The Clippers and Sixers have been discussing a Harden transfer since July and finally reached an agreement in the late hours of Monday evening.
The Clippers and 76ers began discussing a trade again over the weekend as it became increasingly untenable for Harden to be reinstated into the Sixers’ lineup, sources said.
The Sixers wanted to get two first-round picks out of a Harden trade and believe those assets — coupled with the second-round picks and a pick swap — give them a chance to pursue another top-tier guard in a trade to go along with MVP Joel Embiid And Tyrese Maxey this season. As for the Clippers, they have a versatile fifth-year guard Terance Mannwho has to take a break due to a sprained left ankle.
Harden is “over the moon” about joining the Clippers and hopes to fly to Los Angeles as soon as possible, sources close to him told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. There’s a chance he’ll be at the Clippers’ home game against the Clippers on Tuesday night Orlando magic.
Harden, 34, requested a transfer from Philadelphia in June when he elected to exercise his $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season. During a promotional appearance in China in August, he called 76ers basketball president Daryl Morey “a liar” several times, and Harden admitted as much earlier this month when he rejoined the team Their relationship was irreparable.
Harden has yet to play for Philadelphia this season, although he sat on the bench with his teammates during Sunday’s game, wearing jeans and a green hoodie after taking part in the 76ers’ pregame viewing and video session. He was expected to attend practice on Tuesday at the team facility in Camden, New Jersey.
Harden, who grew up in Southern California and played at Artesia High School in Lakewood, had expressed a desire to be traded to the Clippers. The guard is just the latest Southern California product to play at home for the Clippers.
Leonard, a Moreno Valley native who played at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, and George, who grew up in Palmdale and played at Knight High School, decided to join forces with the Clippers in the summer of 2019. The Clippers signed Leonard as a free agent and traded four future unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-rounder and two pick swaps along with him Shai Gilgeous Alexander And Danilo Gallinari for George.
The Clippers also signed Westbrook, who played at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale before his career UCLAas a free agent during the All-Star break after the point guard’s contract was terminated Utah after a trade from the Lakers.
Harden has been one of the league’s best players over the past decade, winning three scoring titles and the league’s MVP award in 2018. He led the league in assists last season.
According to a study by ESPN Stats & Information, the Clippers now have three of the six highest-scoring active players in Harden, Westbrook and George who have never won a title. With these three players around Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, the Clippers hope to win the first NBA championship in franchise history.
The Clippers (2-1) begin a back-to-back set against the Magic on Tuesday in Los Angeles before facing the Lakers on Wednesday. The Clippers then have four consecutive days off for coach Tyronn Lue to get Harden and Tucker involved before opening a three-game road trip against the Clippers in New York Curtsy On Monday.
On this road trip, Harden could take over his former title networks team in Brooklyn on Wednesday before the Clippers end the momentum Dallas next Friday.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.
