One of two longtime All-Star guards to request a trade this summer, James Harden – like Damian Lillard – has a one-team wish list. While Lillard is trying to make his way from Portland to Miami, Harden is hoping for a deal that will send him from the Sixers to the Clippers.
As similar as the two situations are, there are two key factors that differentiate them.
For one, Harden’s contract situation is more typical of what we’ve historically seen for a player on the trade block — he’s on a $35.6MM expiring contract and will reach unrestricted free agency in 2024. That means any team acquiring him will only be assured of having him for one year. Harden’s new team would acquire his Bird rights and might be pretty confident about its ability to re-sign him next summer, but he won’t be extension-eligible before becoming a free agent, so there are no guarantees.
Secondly, Harden is at a slightly different point in his career than Lillard, who averaged a career-high 32.2 points per game last season and appears to still be very much in his prime. Harden, who will turn 34 later this month, is only a year older than Lillard, but he has seen his production dip since he left Houston. After averaging 35.3 PPG across two seasons from 2018-20, Harden has put up more modest numbers (22.3 PPG on .436/.358/.870 shooting) while playing for three different teams in the three years since then.
That drop-off is partly related to an adjustment in role(s) for Harden, who was the go-to scorer in Houston and has played second fiddle to stars like Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. But he also doesn’t have the same explosiveness he showed when he was geetting to the basket and drawing fouls during his prime Rockets years. Harden averaged over 10 free throw attempts per game during his eight seasons in Houston, but went to the line just 6.2 times per night last year in Philadelphia.
Harden, the NBA’s assists leader in 2022/23 (10.7 APG), is still an All-Star caliber player and one of the league’s best offensive guards. But given his age, his declining production, and his contract situation, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Clippers have been reluctant to make the Sixers a substantial trade offer so far.
The fact that the Sixers want to contend for a title rather than enter another rebuild complicates matters. They won’t be content to accept a package of draft picks and/or young players that won’t make them better – or at least make them just competitive – in the short term.
In theory, the Clippers make sense as a trade partner for that reason. They have a handful of veterans earning between $11-18MM who could be used as salary-matching pieces and who could fit the Sixers’ roster. Marcus Morris ($17.1MM), Nicolas Batum ($11.7MM), and Robert Covington ($11.7MM) are on expiring contracts, while Norman Powell ($18MM) has three years left on his deal.
But the 76ers are reportedly hoping to maintain significant 2024 cap room, reducing the appeal of Powell. And a package of, say, Morris, Covington, and Amir Coffey ($3.7MM) wouldn’t move the needle much. Terance Mann, an improving 26-year-old guard who’s a career 38.3% three-point shooter, would be a nice get for Philadelphia, but the Clippers are said to be reluctant to include Mann in an offer for Harden.
Los Angeles could theoretically offer up to two future first-round picks, but the team can’t trade a first-rounder earlier than 2028 due to prior trade obligations and I suspect L.A. would want to include protections on any pick it moves. As noted above, draft picks wouldn’t appeal to the Sixers much anyway, unless they could immediately flip them for a win-now asset.
While the Clippers could make a viable offer for Harden, there’s no indication they’re eager to put Mann and/or an unprotected first-rounder on the table, and Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has shown in the past that he’s comfortable dragging these situations into training camp or even the regular season.
Perhaps the Clippers will feel more urgency as the season approaches or maybe a new suitor will emerge for Harden, but for now, no deal appears close.
With all that in mind, we want to know what you think: Will Harden open the regular season with the Sixers, the Clippers, or another team?
Weigh in below our poll, then head to the comment section to share your predictions!
I expect the Sixers to hold onto Harden while he does his best to tank his value. But unlike Simmons, the upside for a trade is lower for Harden. If Morey expects to get a top-whatever player back for Harden, he’ll be disappointed.
Now way harden tanks his value in a contract year. That might be the dumbest approach to this.
It’s Harden. If he’s somewhere he doesn’t want to be, he effs around until he gets traded, then plays hard after he gets somewhere new. He’s done it twice already.
As a clippers fan who’s not sold I want harden ! If the sixers trade him for a trash package of dead weight like Marcus Morris ,Robert covington and Norman Powell I’ll take it and laugh at the sixers !
Morris and roco are completely washed up and Norma Powell is solid but they can’t start him with maxey ! They are the same height with the same strengths and weaknesses!
I think he’ll be with the Sixers on opening night, but feel indifferent about the situation since they’re likely going nowhere with or without him.
You can demand a young current all star for Lillard but not Harden
Harden will be on the PHI roster unless Morey is bluffing. I don’t see LAC categorically upping their offer to include desirable assets at least until something changes (like Harden playing well early in the season). There’s no reason to now, they’re legitimately the current highest bidder.
That’s the biggest difference between Lillard and Harden and their one-team trade demands/ discussions. Harden’s came after the value of Harden’s services were tested (by him) in the July FA market. The LAC offer may be the only one on the table now, but its reflects the same valuation that the FA market placed on the player at this salary. Negative.
I was a gigantic fan of Harden, but after forcing his way off of 4 out of 30 teams I’ve gotten tired of him. The 1st I liked him for knowing his worth and not taking less than max and winning an mvp after that. Since then it’s been ring chasing, bandwagoning, and cash grabbing for wanting on a different team.
Harden and Tucker for Powell, Morris, Batum and a lottery protected 2029. About all you can expect.
Unless the league forces a trade, they have that power in my opinion, Harden is going to stay a Sixer
Harden is a tough call. Philly really needs a good return for him and most of the league isn’t inclined to give a good return for 1 season of borderline all star ball and absence in the postseason. Best option for both parties is to run it back in Philly.