James Harden got his wish — he is headed to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden demanded a trade back in July and after months of both the 76ers and Clippers front offices digging in their heels, the sides were able to find a creative solution and get a blockbuster trade done, a story broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (at 2 a.m. Eastern). Both sides were able to get most of what they wanted out of a trade that ultimately will see a third team involved (even if it is technically a separate trade).
Here’s how the trade breaks down:
The Los Angeles Clippers receive Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev.
The Philadelphia 76ers receive the Clippers’ 2026 first-round pick via Oklahoma City (with protections), the Clippers’ 2028 unprotected first-round pick, a 2029 pick swap, two second-round picks, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin.
The initial report described the Clippers/OKC pick as “an additional first-round pick that’ll be routed from a third team.” We now know the third team is the Oklahoma City Thunder — a team with a massive amount of draft picks it can move and this is the least valuable of the 2026 picks they have. The Clippers are giving the Thunder a 2027 pick swap to agree to allow the 2026 pick part of the trade.
Philly president Daryl Morey has demanded two first-round picks in the trade, in part because he believes he can flip those picks — plus maybe a player such as Batum or Martin — for an All-Star level player to put next to MVP Joel Embiid and keep his team a contender this season.
Here are some quick late-night thoughts on this deal:
• Harden is a winner because he gets to go home to Los Angeles and play for a team he appears to believe will pay him as a free agent next summer.
Harden is “ecstatic” to be going to the Clippers and is hoping to fly to Los Angeles as soon as possible, sources close to him say. There’s a chance he is in attendance for Tuesday’s home game vs Orlando. https://t.co/jLgtY5O9jf
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 31, 2023
• Harden may be right about getting paid, although maybe not the max contract (or close to it) nor the number of years he hopes to see. The Clippers are about to move into the new Intuit Dome next season and owner Steve Ballmer wants to do that with a team that is a draw. Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George — assuming those last two get contract extensions — give the Clippers a respectable foundation for the next few years. Whether the Clippers should want to sign up for another three years of that trio is another question, but they seem committed to it after this trade.
• With Leonard, George, Harden, and Russell Westbrook the Clippers are a legit playoff threat to any team in the West — if that big three is healthy and meshes. Which is a big “if,” but a reasonable gamble by the Clippers considering where their roster stands. This team is dangerous if everything goes right.
• The Clippers play a back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday (home vs. the Magic, then a “road” game against the Lakers) and it’s highly unlikely Harden plays in either of those games. After that the Clippers have four days off, giving Tyronn Lue time to run a couple of practices and integrate Harden.
• The incredible play of Tyrese Maxey to start the season — 30.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists a game — makes trading away Harden less of a risk for Philly. Bringing back Harden and putting him on the court would have meant taking the ball out of Maxey’s hands, which is not a good idea the way he is rolling to open the season.
• With Morris, Covington and Batum all expiring contracts, the 76ers keep their dream of $50 million or more in cap space next summer alive. That is when they can make a big swing at a third star to go with Embiid and Maxey.
• To make this trade work, the 76ers had to waive Danny Green.
• The 76ers add depth they can use this season with Covington, Batum, Martin and Morris (who has battled injury and has yet to suit up for the Clippers).
• This is a homecoming for Morris, who grew up in the area and played his high school ball in the Philadelphia area.
• The Clippers stuck to their line in the sand of only trading away one first-round pick they controlled and not putting Terance Mann in the deal.