James Harden getting traded to Clippers as lengthy 76ers saga ends with blockbuster
James Harden’s never-ending, ever-worsening, and utterly perplexing saga with the 76ers finally has an ending.
The star guard — who attempted to force his way out of Philadelphia after doing the same with the Nets and Rockets — will head to Los Angeles for another fresh start, as the Clippers and the 76ers agreed to a deal just five days after reportedly pausing talks, according to ESPN.
The Clippers will reportedly send Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, and Kenyon Martin Jr. — as well as draft picks — in exchange for Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrusev, ESPN reported.
Harden’s desire to part ways with the 76ers became clear in June when he opted into his $35.6-million deal, and that was followed by four months where his relationship with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey kept deteriorating.
Harden, the former Nets star who averaged 23.4 points across 80 games with the organization in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, didn’t play in the 76ers’ opening three games.
The Clippers immediately emerged as Harden’s preferred destination following his request, but that — also evident by the Damian Lillard trade, when his desire to play for the Heat only led to a deal with the Bucks — didn’t exactly make anything easier.
Still, Joel Embiid, the league’s reigning MVP and another 76ers star hoped Harden would change his mind and return for Philadelphia to make another run at an NBA title.
The drama took another twist when the 76ers paused trade talks and reports surfaced that Harden would report to training camp, even as Harden blasted Morey publicly — at an Adidas event in China — for being a “liar” and someone he’d never play for again.
He was fined $100,000 for those comments, but it didn’t change the reality of his situation with the season nearing: Both sides, it appeared, were at a standoff.
Harden didn’t really participate in training camp, though he spoke with reporters on Oct. 13 to address his relationship with Morey and the franchise.
“This is not even about this situation,” Harden said. “This is in life when you lose trust in someone. It’s like a marriage. You lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It’s pretty simple.”
Harden, who started his NBA career with the Thunder before a trade to the Rockets for the 2012-13 season, led the NBA with 10.7 assists per game in 2022-23.
The Rockets granted his trade request in 2021, and he spent a season on the same Nets roster as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant before demanding another trade and getting sent to the 76ers in 2022.
And this time, Harden will end up playing where he reportedly wanted all along.
The Clippers, who lost in their first-round series last year to the Suns and have started 2-1 in 2023-24, will add Harden to a lineup that already includes Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook.
