One NBA writer has proposed that the Los Angeles Clippers trade Nicolas Batum, Norman Powell, Terance Mann and Amir Coffey to the Philadelphia 76ers for James Harden and Furkan Korkmaz.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report is proposing the deal in the wake of Harden requesting a trade from the Sixers and wanting to get traded to the Clippers to play with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
“The Clippers would be taking a massive risk here in adding another aging star with durability concerns to a roster that already has two in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George,” Hughes wrote. “It helps the plausibility of this deal that L.A. is only giving up role players, even though losing the versatile Mann will make a bigger impact than most think.”
Harden opted into his 2023-24 player option with the Sixers. The 10-time All-Star is extremely upset at the way in which Philly handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the franchise by requesting a trade.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
The 33-year-old Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists last season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. The lefty led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games and Harden didn’t play well in Game 6 or Game 7. Doc Rivers was fired as head coach after the season and replaced by Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Nurse and Harden met in Houston in June and the meeting went well. However, money got in the way between Harden and the Sixers. Harden wanted a max contract and Philadelphia didn’t want to give The Beard one.
There was initially strong optimism on Harden’s side that he would get traded to the Clippers. Both Leonard and George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining them in Los Angeles and Harden and Westbrook are close friends.
However, according to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice, the Clippers have been fairly unserious about what they’re willing to give up in order to acquire Harden from the Sixers, who are comfortable taking their time with Harden’s trade request.
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