James Harden’s Potential Trade to Clippers Could Affect OKC Thunder

To this point, Los Angeles is James Harden’s most likely landing spot. But that could send a ripple effect that would alter OKC’s future.

Thunder-ex James Harden could very well be on the move soon.

Despite the Philadelphia front office’s, so far, unwavering resolve, a deal that would send him to the Clippers could be in the works.

It’s already been reported as his desired landing spot. And while they likely don’t have the star or potential star that Sixers general manager Daryl Morey is looking for, there may come a point where something is better than nothing.

Of course, adding Harden would come at the expense of some much-needed depth on LA’s side, something that could affect Oklahoma City’s draft picks as early as next season.

To understand how the Clippers and Thunder would fair post-trade, we’ll first need to outline the phantom deal's framework. Harden is set to make around $35 million this upcoming season, meaning the salary output alone isn’t going to be cheap.

Some combination of Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and Terrance Mann will have to be in the equation. All of which provide some valuable support, whether it be from the starting lineup or as a backup.

In short: adding Harden is going to create a three-headed monster, but will deplete the Clippers' reserves.

And while that might work out for Los Angeles, the pendulum could swing in the other direction, too.

Oklahoma City owns Los Angeles’ picks, be it a full selection or a swap, through 2026. We’ve seen “super teams” succeed before. But we’ve also seen them crash and burn in a number of ways, be it injuries, off-court factors or more.

If a trio of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Harden were to crash and burn, Oklahoma City’s cache of unprotected picks look that much better.

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.