The Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers are poised to make a trade this NBA offseason. You know exactly what we’re talking about. A certain superstar point guard wants to be traded. By all accounts, he’s only interested in joining one team.
James Harden wants to be a Los Angeles Clipper. It makes sense. Harden is a great fit on their roster, and he’s a Los Angeles native.
On the other hand, the Clippers don’t have much to offer the Sixers in a trade. Meanwhile, it’s being reported that the Clippers have an interest in PJ Tucker. Presumably, they’d want him included in a Harden deal. Could they trade for Tucker without including Harden?
The Trade Proposal
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: F Robert Covington, 2024 Second-Round Pick (NYK via LAC)
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: F/C PJ Tucker
Of course, Harden isn’t the only star point guard who’s demanding a trade with a list of one team he’s willing to join this summer. You know exactly what we’re talking about. Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers wants to be traded. Meanwhile, he only wants to be traded to the Miami Heat.
How will these teams manage this situation? We’re talking about two elite players. If their teams are trading them, they’re supposed to be receiving a tremendous return.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
When a player has one team on their list, that isn’t likely to happen. The team can’t create a market. Opposing teams won’t offer a superstar-level return for a player that they can’t be sure is going to stay with them.Should the Sixers start preparing for life without Harden?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
Frankly, this deal makes sense for the Sixers no matter what their future holds. Let’s assume that they’re forced to trade Harden for a subpar return. Suddenly, the possibility of a Joel Embiid trade request is wide open. The Sixers might be rebuilding.
In that event, they’re flipping Tucker for an asset. Yes, it’s a single second-round pick: at 38, Tucker won’t get them much more than that.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Alternatively, let’s assume that either Harden stays, or the Sixers manage to flip him for a star. Covington fell out of the Clippers’ rotation last season, but he’s much younger than Tucker. It is entirely possible that he’ll outplay Tucker next year – the Sixers could justify making that gamble. Could the Clippers?
Why The Los Angeles Clippers Do The Deal
It’s possible that Covington will outplay Tucker next season. We didn’t say it was likely. After all, Tucker remained an upper-echelon defensive forward in 2022-23. He’s still unthinkably aggressive, and he can still guard multiple positions.
He’s also a leader. Tucker has intangible qualities that the Clippers might value. That’s worth the cost of a second-round pick.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Unlike the Sixers, we can assume the Clippers will contend next season. Whether they trade for Harden or not, the smart money is on the Clippers being a team with title aspirations next season. Even if this is the only trade they make with the Sixers.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
