How Could a Clippers James Harden Deal Happen? Insider Weighs In

If there isn't a star on the table from the Clippers, an NBA Insider assumes there is a framework the Sixers could agree to in order to trade James Harden.

It’s no secret that Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden wants to play for the Los Angeles Clippers next season.

After picking up his contract option for the 2023-2024 season, Harden made sure to lock in his guaranteed profits before requesting a ticket out. While the Sixers attempted to grant Harden’s wish by discussing a potential deal with the Clippers, LA’s front office did not come to the negotiating table with a desirable offer.

Therefore, Harden remains a member of the 76ers in mid-September, with training camp around the corner. Could the Clippers change that? While the probability is quite low, ESPN’s Zach Lowe predicted a simple framework that could potentially help a Harden deal come to fruition.

“If the Clippers were to put both first-round picks in, even without [Terance Mann], I think there’s a two-team deal that exists that the Sixers would do,” Lowe explained. “I don’t think the two teams have been anywhere close to any of that kind of deal.”

Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey mentioned that he wanted to receive a star player in return for James Harden. When he set that goal back in 2021 during Ben Simmons’ infamous holdout, the wait paid off. 

Morey will understandably take a similar approach here, but a few favorable scenarios have to take place before the Sixers decide to pivot from targeting another star player to prioritizing a package of picks.

“The only play I see for the Sixers here is bring [Harden] to camp, hope he plays pretty well, and the Clippers and some other teams with high expectations sputter over their first 20 games and get desperate,” Lowe concluded.

The Sixers want James Harden at camp. For the time being, an absence is expected. The good news is that Harden has shown up to play in the past when he was described as disgruntled while hoping for a trade. The unfortunate part is that Harden’s willingness to show up and play prior to a trade didn’t last more than eight games when he was with the Houston Rockets in 2020.

The best-case scenario for the Sixers is to land an equal-value star for Harden to keep their championship odds in place. 

However, getting notable draft capital, which offers flexibility, is a decent option to pivot to if Plan A fails. Right now, the Sixers have to focus on getting Harden back in the building. Everything else would have to play out in due time.