2023-24 Around the NBA Thread

[GatorAZ]

This makes the Clippers better. If Harden is happy he’s still a problem. If both teams are fully healthy we can’t guard them.

 

[Hoop Head]

Clippers aren't losing a lot of value but it does look like they're sending their entire frontcourt minus Zubac for him.

Looks like they send out Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin for Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev. Some picks also headed to Philadelphia.

Sources: Clippers land Harden in deal with 76ers

The 76ers have agreed to trade James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers in exchange for Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks and a pick swap, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[nashman]

Feel like the sixers got better, clippers gonna be thin, if any injury’s which is a given with PG and Kawhi they won’t be much…

 

[Hoop Head]

Feel like the sixers got better, clippers gonna be thin, if any injury’s which is a given with PG and Kawhi they won’t be much…

It's a weird trade. Almost everyone involved is expiring so not much of a financial impact now or later. I like it for the Sixers because they add some guys who can help their frontcourt or flip later for back court depth. They also get rid of the distraction that is Harden.

LA gets someone who can score a lot for them when PG and Kawhi aren't available, which is important, but they were set in guard talent for the most part and this makes Westbrook less efficient, since it takes the ball from his hands. Kind of a head scratcher as to why they'd want Harden though because it didn't work in Houston, Brooklyn, or Philadelphia. Do they really think he's going to be happy in LA? How long will that last?

 

[Russ Smith]

The Clips fans on UCLA boards all think it's the same reason they got Westbrook they're hoping bringing Harden home will make him happy. That's why the Lakers took a shot on Westbrook and it's why the Clips did too, the hope that him being at home would make him happy and that he'd play better.

My suspicion is Harden will be a bad addition in the long run but I guess we'll see.

I feel sorry for Norman Powell, he's basically outplayed Westbrook while there and now he's almost certainly going to lose minutes to Harden and probably will outplay him too since he's a far better defender.

 

[Chaplin]

So Philly caves to Harden and sends him where he wants. No justice in this world.

 

[Hoop Head]

So Philly caves to Harden and sends him where he wants. No justice in this world.

I guess Brooklyn and Washington caved, sending Durant and Beal where they wanted to go. No justice in this world.

 

[Proximo]

So Philly caves to Harden and sends him where he wants. No justice in this world.

Well, Philly is actually better off without him. Maxey and Embid are more efficient and they got some role players that will help them a little.

I just don't believe Kwahi's knee will hold up till the playoffs, so to me the team is dead on arrival.

 

[Rivercard]

Kind of a head scratcher as to why they'd want Harden though because it didn't work in Houston, Brooklyn, or Philadelphia. Do they really think he's going to be happy in LA? How long will that last?

LA only needs him to be happy for a season. Harden is playing for a new contract so will need to be on his best behavior this season to achieve that.

 

[Chaplin]

I guess Brooklyn and Washington caved, sending Durant and Beal where they wanted to go. No justice in this world.

Wow, you have a big problem with me, don't you? Amazing.

 

[Mainstreet]

Clippers aren't losing a lot of value but it does look like they're sending their entire frontcourt minus Zubac for him.

Looks like they send out Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin for Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev. Some picks also headed to Philadelphia.

Sources: Clippers land Harden in deal with 76ers

The 76ers have agreed to trade James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers in exchange for Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks and a pick swap, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

The Clippers get Harden for almost relatively nothing.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[nashman]

The Clippers get Harden for almost relatively nothing.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Almost nothing? 4 players that were all good depth and a boatload of draft picks is nothing? Starting PF and backup PF do they even have a PF on the roster now? Westbrook will be much less effective with Harden lol, this trade doesn’t make them good imo…

 

[Hoop Head]

Wow, you have a big problem with me, don't you? Amazing.

It's not personal, it's simply hypocritical to be upset with Philadelphia for not holding firm when you didn't condemn Brooklyn or Washington when they traded players to their preferred destination.

 

[Chaplin]

It's not personal, it's simply hypocritical to be upset with Philadelphia for not holding firm when you didn't condemn Brooklyn or Washington when they traded players to their preferred destination.

Calling me a hypocrite is personal, but whatever.

Unlike you, I don't consider James Harden in the same stratosphere as Durant and Beal. At least both those guys still played with their teams and didn't have hissy fits and hold out.

 

[Mainstreet]

Almost nothing? 4 players that were all good depth and a boatload of draft picks is nothing? Starting PF and backup PF do they even have a PF on the roster now? Westbrook will be much less effective with Harden lol, this trade doesn’t make them good imo…

Check out what the Suns traded for Durant.

Now, if the Clippers had traded Zubac, that would have been something. The Clippers are still loaded and have Harden.

 

[95pro]

The Clippers get Harden for almost relatively nothing.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

We essentially did the same thing with Ayton.

Ayton is not the player and cancer Harden is though, to an extent.

 

[Mainstreet]

@nashman

Check out the Clippers roster at the link below.

I believe they will tweak their roster further, but they have lots of talent and three stars.

2024-25 LA Clippers Cap Table

The LA Clippers 2024-25 salary cap table, including salary cap table, including team cap space, player cap hits, incentives, & bonus info.

www.spotrac.com

 

[Covert Rain]

@nashman

Check out the Clippers roster at the link below.

I believe they will tweak their roster further, but they have lots of talent and three stars.

2024-25 LA Clippers Cap Table

The LA Clippers 2024-25 salary cap table, including salary cap table, including team cap space, player cap hits, incentives, & bonus info.

www.spotrac.com

Harden will be temporary. He doesn't stick anywhere. The next demand to be moved will come soon enough.

 

[Rivercard]

Almost nothing? 4 players that were all good depth and a boatload of draft picks is nothing?

All 4 of those guys are expendable at this stage of their careers, and when they are on the floor you've got problems. Morris and Batum are done. RoCo still has some moments but nothing overly impactful in the long run. KMJ hasn't looked very good but could blossom.

The 2026 and 2028 first round picks could come back to haunt them if the Clips bottom out in two years and those picks become high 1st rounders

 

[AzStevenCal]

All 4 of those guys are expendable at this stage of their careers, and when they are on the floor you've got problems. Morris and Batum are done. RoCo still has some moments but nothing overly impactful in the long run. KMJ hasn't looked very good but could blossom.

The 2026 and 2028 first round picks could come back to haunt them if the Clips bottom out in two years and those picks become high 1st rounders

It's a little risky but the positives greatly outweigh the risks. The Clippers, like the Suns, will be one of those teams no one wants to face in the postseason if they're healthy.

 

[95pro]

Harden will be temporary. He doesn't stick anywhere. The next demand to be moved will come soon enough.

I bet Harden finds himself in a similar spot next year but without a 1 year to sign off on.

Westbrook, PG and Kahwi all have players options for the 24-25 season, i fully expect them to all take it because it will be their last chance to play...Westbrook is on a friendly deal, maybe he opts out and tries to secure one last mid-level payday.

 

[Raindog]

Harden just about more than anyone else has had trouble fitting into a "three stars" alignment. One can easily imagine any team chemistry with the Clippers going south fast.

 

[Phrazbit]

Clippers pulling the trigger on the Harden trade...

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[GatorAZ]

It's a little risky but the positives greatly outweigh the risks. The Clippers, like the Suns, will be one of those teams no one wants to face in the postseason if they're healthy.

In the rare case they’re all healthy someone is getting squeezed. Opposing teams are probably all for Harden/Westbrook taking the ball out of Kawhi/PG’s hands. Norm Powell who’s really good and hurt us in the playoffs really has no role now. But at the end of the day they’re just a hypothetical team like us.

 

[AzStevenCal]

In the rare case they’re all healthy someone is getting squeezed. Opposing teams are probably all for Harden/Westbrook taking the ball out of Kawhi/PG’s hands. Norm Powell who’s really good and hurt us in the playoffs really has no role now. But at the end of the day they’re just a hypothetical team like us.

If we both stay healthy and everything meshes well, I think they're a notch above us if they can escape the obvious chemistry issues.