The Clippers have offered the Sixers a package consisting of a first-round pick, a pick swap, and expiring contracts for James Harden, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown (YouTube video link).
While Los Angeles isn’t inclined to increase that offer and bid against itself, the team is open to exploring the market to see if it can acquire a different piece for that first-rounder that might appeal more to Philadelphia, per Wojnarowski.
“Daryl Morey‘s looking at the Clippers and saying, ‘Steve Ballmer‘s never been under .500. They will figure out a way to have a competitive team. That may not be a great pick,'” Woj explained. “And so I think for the Clippers right now, it’s, ‘We’re not trying to offer you more. We’re not giving you that 2030 first-round pick. But let’s see what we can turn that 2028 pick (into), see if we can flip it,’ and then see if there’s something that more interests Daryl Morey.
“That being said, there’s no traction, they’re not close to anything.”
As we wait to see if the Clippers can pull off a trade for Harden, here are a few more notes on the NBA’s two Los Angeles teams:
- New Clippers wing Kenyon Martin Jr. is bringing athleticism and versatility to a veteran roster, writes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Head coach Tyronn Lue, who praised Martin’s passing and his ability to push the ball up the floor, suggested the team will find different ways to get its offseason acquisition on the court. “I see him as a basketball player at the three, four, five, wherever we can use him,” Lue said. “Just his athleticism, being able to switch, being able to guard different positions, being able to roll to the basket, run the floor.”
- Asked by Arash Markazi of The Messenger (Twitter video link) why he has focused on eventually owing an NBA franchise in Las Vegas rather than anywhere else, Lakers star LeBron James said it “just makes sense” to have a team in the city. “You have the Raiders here, you have the (Golden) Knights here, you have the Aces here, you’ve got F1 coming very soon, All-Star Weekend has been here a few times, you’ve got the NBA Summer League that’s very popular,” James said. “… I think adding an NBA franchise here would just add to the momentum that’s going on in this town. … I think it’s only a matter of time. And I hope I’m part of that time.”
- Steve Kerr was very impressed with Austin Reaves after coaching the Lakers guard this summer with Team USA, tweets Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “Way better to coach him than coach against him,” Kerr said. “I loved coaching him. … He’s really emerging as one of the better young guys in the league.”
Factually not on the sixers to just take whatever the clippers say they should ! If they make a trade with clippers honestly probably fall into play in tournament range
Philly stuck in lose lose. They either undersell on harden and are worse, or they keep him and he starts acting out. Those are the only two outcomes unless they find a better trade, the idea that he’s gonna buy back in is laughable
Morey is a terrible GM because he always ask for a price that is way above what it should be then stuck taking a offer for less. I don’t see anyone coming for Harden right now but Clippers so he better not hold onto Harden too long.
They certainly didn’t do that when Ben Simmons held out. Honestly, if they made a trade they’d be fine this year. That isn’t and has never been the issue.
The problem is, they’re trying to go all-out for next offseason after their books are clear. And if they make a Harden trade, they can’t do that. There are only a very small number of trades that could work in that way, and nobody is willing to offer them for Harden.
LAC are offering what is effectively the S&T toll (a FRP + expiring deals, with former being as much for taking on the contracts as giving up the player) plus a swap. That’s pretty consistent with Harden being unable to find a true (cap space) suitor in the summer’s FA market.
The only rational reasons for PHI not to take the deal are a belief that Harden may change his mind about playing for them, or one that Harden may play so well that other potential suitors join the market to rent his services. Otherwise, though, it really doesn’t make sense to wait. Focusing on Ballmer’s psyche is classic Morey and what makes him a poor deal maker.
I’m a clippers fan and I can tell the truth if they trade harden for Morris covington and batum and a first they most definitely would fall into play in tournament range ! The only one of the 3 that might have anything left to offer a rotation and only on limited mins is batum! Morris and roco are washed up
They are already in play in tourney range. This is a team that knows how play basketball but can not play it cohesively enough not to look like not much more than a rotisserie team by Christmas.
Perhaps, but PHI should still make the deal now unless they think Harden is going to play (for real, all year, into the playoffs) for them. Worst case, PHI could always release all the expiring contract guys who are washed up and keep the FRP and Swap. That’s better than sending Harden home or suspending him.
I really don’t think any club is willing to help out Philly that way, or invite Harden into their organization if they aren’t going to use him to compete for a title. Morey has burned a lot of bridges over the years with his behavior in negotiations, and Philly has (in some circles) been seen as a vulture team since the Ben Simmons saga. Nobody would be willing to acquire Harden for expiring contracts and draft capital that can actually use him. Nor would they be willing to give Philly any players who would actually help them avoid falling into play-in territory. And the Sixers aren’t going to take back any contract longer than a year unless it’s a small one (preferably with high value/upside).
If they’re going to trade Harden anywhere, it’s almost certainly going to end up being a 3-team swap where the third team gets any longer-term deals.
?? – The article (Woj) states that the LAC offered PHI just that, expiring deals and draft capital. That’s why not jumping on it is a mistake (unless they think Harden will actually play the year with them).
Ahh, my bad. Thought it was still the deal with Powell in place. So yeah, mistake. (how the f*** I do that I will never understand)
Granted, no matter what they’ll be worse than last season. And Morey is always deluded.
I see a three team trade with Miami getting involved for Mann or Bones. They can get Herro ti Philly and get out of that contract.
Mann to Miami Herro to Philly with a 1st from the clips the swap garden going to The clips.
That doesn’t help Miami, they’re bought in on Herro unless trading him brings a star in return.
They should take that trade. If the 76ers don’t think Harden is worth a huge multi year contract then they shouldn’t expect a return for an All-NBA caliber player if they trade him.
Trading for Harden should be a fireable offense instantly. Morey should have been fired a while ago.
While def not exact science, it does illustrate how trash that trade is… and it’s also not a straight forward trade.
Harden + Korkmaz for Morris, Batum, and RoCo results in Negative 11 wins for the Sixers and 8 additional wins for the Clippers – a 19 game swing.
link to espn.com
Also, the Sixers currently have 16 guys under contract. If they make a trade, it would be for less overall players in return, otherwise they’ll be wasting salary by having to cut someone.
Harden, Tucker, Korkmaz, House, and Springer = 58.5 M
They can’t trade Harrell until December 15th.
I expect them to keep Oubre, Danny, Pat Bev, Bamba, and Petrusev.
Clippers can’t put together a viable trade where the Sixes send out 3 for 2 or 4 for 3 without involving a 3rd or 4th team and only expiring contracts back to the Sixers. And still, once you find the trade that works, the return for the Sixers is still bad. The Sixers DO NOT want Powell’s contract.
Joe Harris, Morris, Batum, a FRP, a Pick Swap with Harden, Tucker, House, and Springer to the Clippers. Powell and Preston/KMJ to the Pistons.
So it’s more complicated than 3 expiring deals for Harden. Sixers then have to cut 2 guys OR immediately move them elsewhere, in a deficit deal for a 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 of their own. The only player the Sixers seem to be sold on with a non-expiring deal is Terence Mann.
If the Clippers can get something of value for Powell from a 3rd team? Maybe this deal gets done. And if its a player, they’re on the outs with their current team or they are buried on the depth chart and they value Powell more, but the Sixers would value said player X more than Powell? How short is that list?
Fultz/Jalen Suggs/Cole Anthony?
Hayes, MB3, Wiseman?
Sixers ultimately will come away with Mann, 2 FRPs, and a FRP Swap. And shed Tucker’s 24-25 salary in the process. Clippers will have to figure out how to make the money work.
Only way Sixers accept the deal as currently structured is if Joel is hurt and the season is a wash by the deadline anyway.
Nah those win predictions are bogus, Clippers aren’t that much better with that trade… 76ers will be better without Harden…
Those win predictions are probably expecting Harden to be MVP Harden… Not the washed version that has been seen the past few years…
I said not exact science but it does exaggerate the point, it’s a bad trade for the Sixers and a good one for the Clippers.
Batum, RoCo, and Morris are vet min type guys at this point of where the league is at. If they were FAs this offseason, vet mins all around.
Harden posted 21pts and 10.7 asts, so no he isn’t MVP Harden. But if he hadn’t pulled the stunt in Houston, asked out of Brooklyn, and gotten Doc fired he may have had a better offseason offer.
2k time