Sources – Clippers land James Harden in blockbuster 76ers deal

The LA Clippers acquired 10-time All-Star guard James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, sources told ESPN.

The 76ers sent Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, an unprotected 2028 first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap and a first additional round. pick that will be routed through a third team, sources told ESPN.

The Clippers and a third team were still finalizing those details late Monday night, sources said.

The Sixers will waive veteran guard Danny Green to create space for the trade, sources said.

The Clippers brought Harden in to team up with All-Star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as guard Russell Westbrook, who played with Harden on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. The Clippers and Sixers have been discussing a Harden trade since July and finally reached a deal late Monday night.

The Clippers and 76ers began discussing a trade again this weekend as it became increasingly untenable for Harden to be reinstated in the Sixers’ lineup, sources said.

The Sixers wanted to get two first-round picks in a Harden trade and believe those assets, coupled with the second-round picks and a pick swap, give them a chance to pursue another top guard in a trade . to team up with MVP Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this season. As for the Clippers, they retain versatile fifth-year guard Terance Mann, who has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle.

Harden is “excited” to go to the Clippers and hopes to fly to Los Angeles as soon as possible, sources close to him told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. There’s a chance he’ll attend the Clippers’ home game Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic.

Harden, 34, requested a trade from Philadelphia in June when he picked up his $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season. During a promotional appearance in China in August, he repeatedly called 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar,” and Harden admitted earlier this month, joining the team, that their relationship was beyond repair.

Harden had yet to play for Philadelphia this season, although he was on the bench with his teammates during Sunday’s game, wearing jeans and a green hoodie, after participating in the presentation and at the 76ers pregame video session. He was scheduled to participate in Tuesday’s practice at the team’s facility in Camden, New Jersey.

Harden, who grew up in Southern California and played at Artesia High School in Lakewood, had expressed a desire to be traded to the Clippers. The guard is just the latest Southern California product to play at home for the Clippers.

Leonard, who is from Moreno Valley and played at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, and George, who grew up in Palmdale and played at Knight High School, decided to team up with the Clippers during the summer of 2019. The Clippers signed Leonard. as a free agent and traded four future unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-rounder, and two pick swaps with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari for George.

The Clippers also signed Westbrook, who played at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale before playing at UCLA, as a free agent during the All-Star break after the point guard was bought out of his contract with Utah at following a trade with the Lakers.

Harden has been one of the best players in the league over the past decade, winning three scoring titles and the 2018 league MVP award. He led the league in assists last season.

In Harden, Westbrook and George, the Clippers now have three of the top six active players in points scored among those who have never won a title, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. With these three around Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, the Clippers hope to win the first NBA championship in franchise history.

The Clippers (2-1) begin a back-to-back in Los Angeles against the Magic on Tuesday before facing the Lakers on Wednesday. The Clippers then have four straight days off for coach Tyronn Lue to fit in Harden and Tucker before opening a three-game road trip in New York against the Knicks on Monday.

On this road trip, Harden could face his former Nets team in Brooklyn on Wednesday before the Clippers complete the swing in Dallas next Friday.

ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.