Harden Declares Clippers His Ideal Destination

After just one full season in Philadelphia, James Harden wants to head to his fifth team: the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kyle Ross/USA Today Sports

This morning, James Harden made it clear to the NBA that he is “determined to start next season in a Clippers jersey,” according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

This development emerges days after Joel Embiid expressed his hope for Harden to reconsider his trade request.

The Clippers have finally replenished some of their draft capital after exiling their first-round picks to land Kawhi Leonard and Paul George years ago, but their other assets may not be intriguing to Philadelphia.

For instance, one possible trade posed is Harden and Furkan Korkmaz for Normal Powell, Robert Covington, Terance Mann, Bones Hyland, and two first-round picks. Though the contracts match, Philadelphia understands that a trade like this would not bring them any closer to a championship. Sure, the depth of the team would be more complete, but without another star and a much weaker starting lineup, the team wouldn’t move the pendulum any closer to their ultimate goal.

Luckily, Philly has leverage. Harden wants another max contract. Picking up a $35.6 million option for one season doesn’t give Harden long-term job stability. Harden, who is 33, has to play well this season to land that desired long-term max contract. Meaning that, unlike in Houston and Brooklyn, where Harden could sit out and play the waiting game, time is against him, and he has to prove to other teams that he is worthy of a maximum by playing basketball at a high level. Harden needs minutes this season, so he can’t simply sit out or intentionally play poorly if Philly doesn’t trade him. Therefore, if no option seems suitable for Philadelphia, they can leave him on the team and force him to play for his off-season bag.

Embiid might just get his wish.