James Harden may get his wish and get traded to the Clippers. But it won’t be for a while.
According to Law Murray of The Athletic, Los Angeles is committed to consolidating its impressive depth to upgrade at a certain position. But while Harden has reportedly been interested in joining the Clippers since late June, his hometown team doesn’t feel any urgency to make a deal right now.
Harden opted into his 2023-24 contract for $35.6M just before free agency began, and requested that the 76ers trade him. But aside from the Clippers, there’s no obvious destination for The Beard, nor an obvious trade that would deliver what the 76ers want: a second star alongside Joel Embiid, or enough draft picks that they could trade for a star.
The team and the player are at an impasse. Harden wants to go to a team that will give him the big-money deal Philadelphia wouldn’t this summer. The Sixers don’t want to break the bank for Harden, but they also need to remain contenders, while preserving their potentially-massive salary cap space next summer.
Team president Daryl Morey claims if he doesn’t get his desired trade, the Sixers “just won’t do it.” After all, Harden is under contract. The Clippers clearly think their collection of expiring contracts and young players could bring back any number of players, not just Harden. And neither of those clubs is in a hurry.
Harden may be the one party who is in a hurry to get something done. But it’s not likely to happen soon. Perhaps he should also go take a walk outside.
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