James Harden Traded from 76ers to Clippers

The Philadelphia 76ers traded James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers early Tuesday morning. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the deal.

Daryl Morey has finally ended the drama surrounding Harden. The return package has more to do with an eye on the long-term future or the possibility of an additional upcoming trade than it does with improving Philadelphia's 2023-24 roster.

The former NBA MVP played 102 regular-season and playoff games with the Sixers. He ignited a new level of optimism in February 2022 when Morey acquired him from the Brooklyn Nets with Ben Simmons as the centerpiece of the return package. However, his only two seasons didn’t improve the status quo in Philadelphia.

The Sixers exited the NBA Playoffs in the second round for the fourth time in five seasons against the Miami Heat in 2022. They repeated the same fate in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

Although Harden would’ve been a key piece to the 2023-24 team, his relationship with Morey spoiled quickly after the devastating loss against the Celtics.

Harden repeatedly called his long-time friend a liar on the record. It was clear the relationship would never recover.

Morey also sent P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev in the deal. The Clippers sent Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, and KJ Martin to the Sixers in return.

The Clippers did not include Terance Mann, who was originally at the center of trade rumors. 

The Sixers will also receive a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap, and a first-round pick from an unannounced third team. They also waived veteran Danny Green for roster flexibility to accommodate the move.

Daryl Morey finally executed the deal that Philadelphia 76ers fans knew would eventually come. The return package for James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers included four players, four draft picks, a draft swap, and salary cap flexibility.

The Sixers also included P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev in the deal.

Are the Sixers a better team than they were yesterday? It’s difficult to say. They lost a starter in Tucker and a relatively unknown piece in Petrusev. They also waived Danny Green for the roster flexibility to execute the deal.

Tucker averaged over 26 minutes in 11 postseason games for Philadelphia in 2023. He provided strong defense and physicality and veteran leadership. His offensive shortcomings diminished his value as a player, however, especially at age 38.

There’s no guarantee that the NBA players they acquired will even play for the 76ers let alone become key contributors. Expect to see some typical NBA salary cap gymnastics in the aftermath of this blockbuster deal.

What do the Clippers get? An aging former superstar who has been an unprofessional disruption to three different NBA teams since 2021.

Bob Cooney spoke on The John Kincade Show about the return package for James Harden.

There is no significant advantage on the court for the 2023-24 Sixers in the immediate aftermath of the trade. The Clippers ultimately used their leverage to keep Terance Mann, who was at the center of trade rumors throughout the offseason.

The value of the trade is about the long-term future of an organization.

Will the Sixers be aggressive in free agency in 2024? They have the cap space to do it if any big names are interested in playing in Philadelphia.

Will they pursue a trade in season? What does each of these assets mean?

Marcus Morris is an accomplished NBA veteran who has played 850 regular-season and playoff games. The Philadelphia native might have something left in the tank after playing 65 games in 2022-23, but he hasn’t played in a game yet this season.

His value in the trade has nothing to do with his fit in Philadelphia and everything to do with an annual salary of over $17 million coming off the books after the 2023-24 season.

Don’t expect him to play much of a role for the 76ers. It’s possible he never puts on the uniform.

The irony of Robert Covington is real. The former Sam Hinkie acquisition became a microcosm of key talking points surrounding The Process during his first tenure with the Sixers from 2014-18.

He probably has a little bit more left in the tank than fellow veteran shooter Danny Green. However, expect the bigger takeaway of Covington’s second stint with the Sixers to have more to do with Process debates than what’s happening on the floor.

Expiring contracts carry value in the NBA. Nicolas Batum will turn 35 in six weeks. He hasn’t averaged double figures since 2017-18, but his $11.7 million annual salary comes off the books after 2023-24.

The 22-year-old Kenyon Martin Jr. has just begun his fourth NBA season. He averaged 12.7 points for the Houston Rockets in 2022-23. He is the only player the Sixers acquired in the trade who might have a legitimate long-term upside.

However, the organization likely sees more value in his expiring contract.

It’s not like it’s ever a bad thing to acquire an extra first-round pick in a trade. However, consider that the player selected with this pick might be 13 or 14 years old right now.

The Sixers might not make this selection, especially considering that Daryl Morey doesn’t have the long-term stability within the organization to focus on loading up future picks that he doesn’t plan on moving.

It’s good to add sweeteners to any trade. Fans of the 76ers got used to acquiring second-round picks while Sam Hinkie was in charge, and they probably know that they shouldn’t expect them to materialize into much.

The right to a pick swap could help the 76ers gain a better draft position in 2029. For now, all it does is remind their fan base of a similar move Hinkie made in 2015 that led to a dooming chain of events.

The Sixers used the swap to move up to the third spot in the 2017 NBA Draft. They used the advantageous position to make the infamous deal with the Boston Celtics to acquire the top pick in the draft and select Markelle Fultz.

This one has to turn out better. Right?

The difference between the top of the first round and the bottom of the first round is greater in the NBA Draft than it is in any other sport. Wait and see which team must send the future first-rounder to the Sixers before evaluating the asset.

Analyzing the return package for James Harden singularly doesn’t tell the whole story.

Daryl Morey needed to move Harden, and he didn’t have much leverage to do so. Therefore, he had a tough time getting anything notable that affects the short-term status of the team.

His goal is to set the Sixers up for an additional move that actually helps them on the floor. He now has flexibility that didn’t exist with James Harden on the roster.

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