Sources: Clippers, Harden Exploring Trade; Cavaliers Express Interest - ESPN
Inglewood, California -- The LA Clippers and star player James Harden are in discussions about a potential trade by Thursday's NBA deadline, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams showing serious interest in Harden.
Harden, 36, holds veto power over any trade due to his current contract status. The second year of his two-year, $81.5 million deal, which he signed last offseason, is a player option not fully guaranteed. Harden's absence from the Clippers' game against the Phoenix Suns and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday was attributed to personal reasons.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged Harden's importance to the team, stating that he "means a lot" to the franchise. When asked about Harden's future, Lue expressed a sentiment shared by many, saying, "Who wouldn't want to have James Harden?"
Harden's performance has been instrumental in the Clippers' resurgence, helping them secure a play-in spot after a challenging 6-21 start. He recently shared his appreciation for playing in his hometown of Los Angeles and his belief in the team's ability to recover from a poor season start.
This potential trade marks Harden's fifth team after his previous stops in Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. The Clippers acquired Harden from the 76ers in 2023, pairing him with stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. However, George recently left for Philadelphia as a free agent and faced a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy.
Harden's recent achievement of passing Shaquille O'Neal on the NBA's all-time scoring list further highlights his impact on the league.
