Four rival scouts and three executives who spoke to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times about the Clippers‘ trade for James Harden were split on what the team gave up and how significant an impact the former MVP will have on the roster.
“This is something that can go two, three different ways, but a motivated Harden is a good Harden,” one scout said. “I think we’ll get a hard-playing James. Now when the playoffs come, that’s always interesting how he regresses. But I think we’ll see some big-game James in the coming months.”
As Greif writes, some of the sources he spoke to believed the cost to acquire Harden was about right, but pointed out that it will be a lot to have surrendered if he ends up being a one-year rental. Others are curious about how the “pecking order” will play out in Los Angeles, given how many ball-dominant players the Clippers now have on their roster in Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook.
“I’m not saying it can’t work. I think it can,” another scout said. “They’re clearly better with James Harden in terms of talent, skill and basketball IQ. But how’s it all going to shake out? I don’t see how — with the willingness of these guys seems to be there to make it work — that it wouldn’t work. But sometimes the best-laid plans don’t always go the way you think. I understand why the Clippers did it.”
Here’s more on the Clippers:
- Mark Medina of Sportsnaut writes that the Clippers’ acquisition of Harden is a big gamble that could result in a big payoff, while Jim Alexander of The Southern California News Group believes that it’s a roll of the dice that isn’t worth the risk.
- While the trade between the Clippers and Sixers hasn’t been officially finalized and announced, Harden and P.J. Tucker arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday and greeted their new teammates in the Clippers’ locker room, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Westbrook, who also played with Harden in Oklahoma City and Houston, told reporters with a smile that he wouldn’t discuss the trade until it was official, but didn’t dispute that he’s happy about the impending move. “Yeah,” he repeatedly said. “I mean, s–t, why wouldn’t I be? Yeah, excuse my language, but definitely, definitely happy.” Harden offered a briefer answer when asked by a reporter how excited he is to be a Clipper: “You don’t understand.”
- Even before the acquisition of Harden, Westbrook had been happy playing for the Clippers, notes Youngmisuk (via Twitter). Asked on Tuesday about it, Westbrook said he’s grateful to have been embraced by the organization and has rediscovered the joy of playing basketball since joining the team last season.
- There’s an expectation that the trade will become official on Wednesday, but Harden and Tucker likely won’t play in tonight’s game vs. the Lakers, per Youngmisuk. The Clippers will have four days off after Wednesday’s contest, which they can use to prepare their new-look roster for Monday’s game in New York.
As much as I don’t like Harden, and I’m not sure why any team would want, this is a low-risk gamble for the Clips. If he plays well and everyone is healthy for playoff time, the Clips will have a real chance at competing for a title. If it goes poorly and/or injuries pile up again, the Clips could potentially blow it up and have nearly $100M of cap space to use as early as next offseason, and by the summer of 2025 at the latest.
Westbrook will be traded at some point this season
He is not trade eligible, due to his one year contract.
Nah.
Bad take. Look at his contract. Why would you trade that.
Trade eligible or not, if things go as they hope with Harden I bet you Westbrook won’t be on their May 1 (active) roster
I can tell you as a Sixers fan, and I’m sure any Sixers or Nets fans can confirm, even a motivated Harden will not move around off ball. Even if he does a few games it won’t last. I don’t see how they make it work with 4 guys who want the ball and aren’t great off ball outside Paul George. Sure, Leonard can do it too but you are losing out on a lot of his value having him spot up shooting as Harden plays hero ball.
The Clippers players wanted Harden. Making it work will be a challenge. Harden hasn’t shown he can help teams win in the playoffs, so I’m not sure why Clippers management thought this was a good idea.
The thing is, pretty much every team Harden has ever played for tried to depend on his clutch scoring in the playoffs. The only exceptions are the 2021 Nets (who got injured but would have made the finals if not for Durant’s giant shoes), and the 2018 Rockets (who got injured, and probably would have won the title with a healthy CP3). The other Rockets teams, as well as the Sixers, all depended on James to step up in closeout games, which he can’t do. He’s still a lifetime 23/6/7 guy in the playoffs (which includes all the series where he was a 6th man in OKC, so as a starter he’s better), but in closeout games he’s always been terrible.
The Clippers literally don’t care as long as he can run plays for them. Kawahi and PG are their scoring bets. Granted, everything with the team is also a health bet, but in this time, Harden doesn’t have to score much. Anything he gives them as a scoring threat is effectively just a bonus.
Granted, I don’t think the hit to team chemistry and the way the Clippers are shoving Russ aside despite how well he’s played for them are worth it, but I don’t run an NBA team, so maybe they think it’s a better idea.
Harden is a great passer, and so is Westbrook. I’m not sure if you think they’re not planning on starting all 4 + Zubac, but I bet that’s how it starts once Harden is considered in game condition.
I do agree that they will start the four + Zubac.
It still leaves Mann, Hyland and Powell as depth at the backcourt/wing.
I honestly don’t think they will, or at least they won’t stick with it. Russ is really not useful off-ball. He can cut, and occasionally hit a corner three, but he’s leagues better as the primary distributor. The Lakers had the same problem with him; too many ball-dominant guys on the floor. The spacing is better for the Clippers, and PG and Kawahi can play okay off-ball, but it’s kind of a waste of their skillsets when both are better on-ball. And Harden is kind of the same deal. He can shoot better than Russ, but he’s not as mobile as he was even four year ago, thanks to that misdiagnosed hamstring injury he suffered in the EC semis in 2021. Playing them together isn’t a great idea.
Russ probably ends up leading the second unit and coming off the bench to push the pace whenever Lue thinks it’s needed, imo. He was solid in that role last year for the Lakers, they just didn’t have the bench personnel to take advantage of it. The Clippers have guys who can shoot on the bench (Powell, Hyland, and Coffee, as well as Boston, Miller, and Brown to a lesser extent), plus a starting-caliber Center in Plumlee as their backup 5. I could see him being really valuable in that role, possibly 6MOY-level valuable. Mann probably starts at the 2 to shore up the defense and add versatility without the need for another ball-dominant guard.
I’d start them all with Russ as the nominal PG then stagger their minutes so there’s always at least two of Harden, Leonard, Westbrook or George on the floor when they’re all healthy.
They’re all older guys with varying degrees of injury history so they should lighten their loads and play them 25-30 minutes per. That would also mitigate them playing all together.
Harden has mostly played well in the playoffs, his problem is that he’s never had help (mainly because Chris Paul’s annual tradition of getting injured in May).
Harden lacks the quickness he use to have. He can’t beat the younger guards off the dribble and resorts to throwing his hands in the air and grimacing to try and draw fouls. He still has great passing instincts and a nice 3pt shot. If he focuses his game on those 2 areas and stays away from the paint, he could be a real asset. His ego and personality will probably be OK in LA where it is celebrated, so it’s less of a concern IMO.
Harden is slow no-defense egoist with high bball IQ, who is great at exploiting deficiences. He is useless against focused hard-nosed defense team (all in playoffs) and to Kawhi and George. Ideal to run the 2nd unit in regular season.
The Clippers are just the latest “on-paper” super team, I think. Harden eventually just can’t coexist with other stars (or superstars). I watched it happen game in and game out in Houston when it was worth having season tickets. Oh, but I just corroborated the Daryle Morey beef! Lol
But at the end of the day I know nothing. I just think this is the wrong combination of guys to win a championship, especially with The Beard and PG13 a bit past their prime.
Also, maybe this is just me trying to make myself feel better as an original Minnesotan and Wolves fan…yes…that is the most likely answer. Let’s go Gobert!! Lol