James Harden Finalizes Mega Trade to the Los Angeles Clippers

High-Profile Trade: NBA Star James Harden Joins Clippers

In a momentous trade, Los Angeles Clippers acquire James Harden, a guard who has been selected as an NBA All-Star 10 times. This blockbuster deal sees Harden, 33, move from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Clippers. Prior to this trade, Harden missed the 76ers’ initial three games of the season due to a disagreement with Philadelphia president Daryl Morey.

The dispute between Harden and Morey escalated following reports that the 76ers had stopped discussing potential trades involving Harden. In response, Harden publicly labeled Morey a “liar”.

The addition of Harden to the Clippers’ roster is met with great enthusiasm, particularly for his exceptional skills in playmaking. Lawrence Frank, the president of the Clippers, highlighted Harden’s remarkable ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. Frank stated, “James is one of the NBA’s most prolific and efficient playmakers, possessing great size and vision.”

As part of this trade, the Clippers also acquire P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev from the 76ers, while Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, and Kenyon Martin are sent in exchange.

Welcome to #ClipperNation, James Harden! pic.twitter.com/ff6fut11yW

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 1, 2023

This trade brings excitement to the Clippers’ lineup as they add James Harden to their roster, joining forces with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and former teammate Russell Westbrook.

Harden had been expressing his dissatisfaction with his situation in Philadelphia for some time. He made it clear that he desired to play for the Clippers and insisted that he would not represent the 76ers as long as Morey remained in a leadership position.

In response to his comments, Harden was fined $100,000 (£82,556) by the NBA. He expressed his belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request for a trade.

The trade negotiations between the 76ers and the Clippers faced obstacles due to the demands set by the 76ers, as reported by ESPN. The history between Morey and Harden during their time with the Houston Rockets played a significant role in facilitating Harden’s move to Philadelphia in a trade that involved Ben Simmons joining the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden’s addition to the 76ers, alongside reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, propelled the team to the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season. Despite their impressive journey, they were ultimately defeated by their rivals, the Boston Celtics, after squandering a 3-2 series lead.

During the previous season, Harden led the NBA in assists with an average of 10.7 per game. He also contributed 21 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.