James Harden arrives in L.A., welcomed in Clippers’ locker room

LOS ANGELES — Shortly after James Harden and PJ Tucker entered their new locker room with the LA Clippers, Russell Westbrook greeted his former Houston Rockets teammates with a handshake and a hug.

While the proposed trade between the Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers had not become official Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Harden and Tucker were greeted by the Clippers the moment they got out of their SUV in the loading dock of the Crypto.com Arena.

Team president Lawrence Frank was there to greet the two players and escort them to the Clippers locker room. Shortly after their walk, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer came to shake hands with Harden and Tucker.

In the locker room, Westbrook and Harden were together again. The two played together in Oklahoma City and Houston. Westbrook broke out of his typical pregame routine and focus and joked with Harden that he could stay on the other side of the locker room, where his new locker is located across from Westbrook’s locker.

Eventually, Tucker and Harden sat near Westbrook and Paul George to catch up more than an hour before the Clippers played the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

Asked by a reporter in the locker room about his enthusiasm, Harden replied: “You don’t understand.”

While walking around the locker room, Harden also sang “You Dropped A Bomb On Me” by the Gap Band, which was playing in the nearby trainer’s room.

Even if the trade becomes official Tuesday night, the expectation is that Harden and Tucker likely won’t face the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

After this game, the Clippers have four days off before beginning a three-game road trip in New York against the Knicks on Monday. The Clippers can use these four days as a mini training camp for Harden and Tucker once the deal is official.

Clippers coach Ty Lue could not comment on the trade before Tuesday night’s game because the deal had not yet become official.

The Clippers beat the Magic 118-102.