NBA fans woke up to a treat — or trick, depending your favorite team — on Halloween with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that the Los Angeles Clippers have completed a blockbuster trade to acquire former MVP James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Clippers’ acquisition of Harden marks the end of a four-month saga, which began when the 10-time All-Star made the surprising decision to opt into his contract rather than test free agency. In opting in, however, the 34-year-old guard also requested a trade and became embroiled in a public feud with 76ers general manager Daryl Morey.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said during an Adidas promotional appearance in China this past August. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
Harden’s trade request lingered into training camp, which the Arizona State product was absent for a significant part of. He returned to the team ahead of the start of the regular season last week, but had yet to participate in a game prior to the trade.
According to Wojnarowski, in addition to Harden, the Clippers are also acquiring forwards P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev from Philadelphia. In return, the 76ers will acquire Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr., a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap and an additional first-round pick that’ll be sent from a third team.
The 2018 NBA MVP, Harden joins a Clippers roster that currently includes star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, who he played alongside during their time together with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. Through its first three games of the 2023-24 campaign, Los Angeles is 2-1.
After waking up to the news of the NBA’s latest blockbuster trade, many were quick to take to social media to weigh in.
Philly has always maintained it needed two firsts in any deal for Harden so it could add to the roster around Joel Embiid. In recent days the Clippers got extremely creative in getting that second first round pick via a third team. Full measure of this trade won’t come until we… https://t.co/lT4pzop9UX
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 31, 2023
Between this and getting off the PJ deal, this is pretty good business from Morey (assuming you are doing the deal in the first place) https://t.co/AqqN1Tjjcw
— Mike Zavagno (@MZavagno11) October 31, 2023
James Harden is still quite good and very famous, so people are going to look at this and think the Sixers didn't get much.
If I were running a team, I would very badly want to control as many Clipper first-round picks between 2027 and 2030 as possible. https://t.co/bBCTHQArEc
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) October 31, 2023
Daryl was willing to wait through an uncomfortable situation until the Clippers found a way to get a second 1st round pick sent over in a deal. https://t.co/Ezb8zlcJkz
— Philly Fast Break (@PhillyFastBreak) October 31, 2023
Alright so they got the picks they were asking for and freed cap. I think you have to make a move for a star before the deadline or Embiid will be gone https://t.co/7pooBN2JgD
— Tommy (@tommyob95) October 31, 2023
Not awful value for a guy on an expiring that no one else wants. They at least have some assets that could be used to bring in more talent. But for this season….Sixers probably get the 4 seed and lose to the Cs in the second round again lol. https://t.co/9rOxMWJzvk
— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) October 31, 2023
Bro watch Philly flip RoCo for a 1st I'll lose my mind. https://t.co/2MArQtuD7L
— Torey Jones (@ToreyJonesYT) October 31, 2023
james harden finding out about this at 2am in a club is perfect https://t.co/f6vXdywk05
— alex (@steven_lebron) October 31, 2023
Woj breaking NBA trade news the day of the NFL trade deadline that’s special. https://t.co/nP57UuUZe6
— Colb (@___Colb___) October 31, 2023
He’s gonna play Wednesday isn’t he lmao https://t.co/xs3ILnYRoi
— Sean Davis (@Sean_Davi) October 31, 2023
[ESPN]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.