There are times when I just cannot aid but wonder what is likely as a result of an NBA superstar’s mind. Now, as experiences swirl that James Harden wishes to be dealt to the Clippers, is one particular of those people moments.
A 10-time All-Star and the winner of very last season’s league guide crown on a for every-match basis, Harden continue to possesses video game-modifying potential. He showcased that not only in a Activity 1 victory around the Celtics in which he scored 45 points and logged 6 helps even with not obtaining MVP Joel Embiid, but also when he went off again a few contests later with 42 details, 9 helps, eight boards and a chilly-blooded, sport-winning triple in the remaining minute. Harden, Embiid and the Sixers faltered poorly in Sport 7 of that series, having bounced in the 2nd spherical nonetheless once more. But they showed adequate firepower to counsel there is opportunity to achieve extra, specifically with a new mentor in Nick Nurse, who received the title in 2019 with the Raptors.
However Harden seems to be creating his way to his third new staff in just a few yrs immediately after staying the person in Houston for eight consecutive seasons.
We can get into the why of it all. Guaranteed, Los Angeles would depict a homecoming for Harden, who grew up there. And the predicament would theoretically give him even a lot more star electricity to pair with, in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. There’s championship probable there, even if you have to squint difficult to see it.
But there’s an noticeable caveat there: The Clippers, preseason title favorites past period for so numerous of us, haven’t been ready to count on the well being of their two star wing abilities. Even with the team’s unbelievable depth, not having the just one-two punch we all once imagined left late-period addition Russell Westbrook trying to do a great deal of the offensive hurt himself. And now with the new CBA getting immediate goal at significant-shelling out companies like the Clippers, the climb to a title will get only steeper for this harm-vulnerable group of expertise. Including an growing old Harden to this group absolutely could support, but only if other areas of the remaining main get and stay balanced.
This is why it’s a bit stunning that Harden would even entertain this sort of a go, presented his time in Brooklyn. When he pushed for a trade there, he mentioned frequently that he appreciated the plan of not acquiring to carry the excess weight of a franchise on his back again. That he needed to be one particular of the leaders, but not the leader, in essence. But things improved very quickly after Kevin Durant went down with an personal injury for the reason that Kyrie Irving was sidelined due to his decision to stay unvaccinated. (New York Metropolis experienced a mandate barring players from undertaking until finally they had been, and the Nets initially reported they wouldn’t permit Irving to be a part-time player who played only on the highway.) As this sort of, Harden became the go-to person yet again, which was what he’d preferred to stay away from by signing on to play with Durant and Irving. And around time, he shocked the league by inquiring out of the scenario.
Philadelphia, in idea, must be a near-excellent spot for Harden. He plays up coming to a celebrity in Embiid, a dominant put up participant who’s in his primary and just won his 1st MVP. 20-two-12 months-outdated guard Tyrese Maxey is much more than able, way too, owning just averaged 20 factors in his 3rd year. The Sixers’ roster is not great, but it is among the extra proficient types in the league.
Harden seemed to have an understanding of that past summer, when he selected to decide out of the last year of his deal with the Sixers. At the time, he and other reporters deemed it a “pay cut” intended to give Philadelphia far more methods to bolster the relaxation of the roster.
However the actuality generally was this: Harden nearly absolutely agreed to that offer expecting the Sixers would make up for what he did not choose past summer months by handing him a long-phrase offer this summer time. It appeared that Harden would have the leverage to command such a pact—rumors swirled for months that the Rockets, his former workforce, wanted him back at substantial money—but the moment Harden-to-Houston communicate dried up, hope of scoring a major provide with Philly could have, way too.
And if that is the way issues played out, it may possibly demonstrate why Harden opted in to the remaining year of his agreement, inspite of obtaining no desire in returning to the Sixers: He has no curiosity in screening a shallow absolutely free-agent sector, with number of contenders, that seems to have cooled on him for the time becoming. No one wants to lock Harden up to a long-phrase offer when his intent and desires—aside from just obtaining paid—shift so speedily, specifically now, in this new CBA landscape.
Which is why it’d be interesting to listen to Harden demonstrate his state of mind now. If he would like to gain ideal now—with a wholesome, MVP-degree costar and a solid roster—Philadelphia is almost definitely a far better solution for him still, no matter how humbling the lack of a very long-phrase agreement could be.
