The conclusion of James Harden’s time — and an era — with the Clippers
TYRONN LUE SMILED upon seeing James Harden at the LA Clippers training facility on Tuesday afternoon. This occurred just hours before the franchise finalized a trade sending the 36-year-old, 11-time All-Star to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
Everyone present, including Harden, was aware that a trade was on the horizon. Nevertheless, he was there in Clippers attire, receiving treatment from the training staff and participating in a workout with teammates.
“When players are being traded, it doesn’t usually happen like this,” Lue told ESPN. “But we all care about James. … So, I approached the training table and started joking with him. I said, ‘You weird.’ That’s his favorite word. Weird. And he just started laughing.
“We’re all going to miss him. Certainly, his performance. But also his character.”
In contrast to Harden’s previous tumultuous departures, this one was amicable. There was no trade demand or prolonged uncertainty as seen in Houston, Brooklyn, or Philadelphia.
Before departing the facility on Tuesday, Harden took the time to say goodbye to several staff members and players.
This separation represented a mutual understanding, as both Harden and the team recognized that the Clippers’ impressive run—having been the NBA’s hottest team since Christmas Day with a 71% win rate—was likely not sustainable. Furthermore, the era of the Clippers, which began in 2019 with the signing of Kawhi Leonard and the subsequent acquisition of Paul George, has effectively come to an end.
Harden was the last significant addition.
During his two-plus seasons with the Clippers, Harden played 72 and 79 games, and participated in 44 of the team’s first 47 games this season before missing the last two due to trade discussions. He was expected to provide support for George and Leonard, who have struggled with injuries. However, that trio, similar to Harden’s time with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, was never consistently healthy or available.
Now, Leonard, arguably the most injury-prone of the group, remains the only one left in Los Angeles.
“Clearly, luck is a factor in this league,” Leonard stated Wednesday night. “With shots, injuries, and everything else, that’s just how it unfolded. I wanted to give it another shot, but it didn’t work out that way, so here we are.”
When asked if the era felt incomplete, especially after the team’s recent performance, Leonard simply shrugged.
“From what was anticipated? … It’s over,” he remarked. “Players are gone.”
THE BEGINNING OF the end of Harden’s time with the Clippers can be traced back to the summer when the team informed him that it was uncomfortable guaranteeing him more than the $39.2 million he was set to earn this season due to his age (36) and the team’s desire to maintain financial flexibility starting this summer.
Harden, feeling he had reestablished himself as an All-Star—averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds, and being named third-team All-NBA—believed he deserved an extension similar to the two-year, $111 million contract the Warriors offered to Jimmy Butler, who is the same age as Harden.
Nonetheless, Harden wished to remain in his hometown of Los Angeles and believed the Clippers had sufficient talent to compete, so he accepted a contract where only $13.8 million of the $42.3 million he was owed in the second year would be guaranteed.
If the team performed well, he assumed the Clippers would likely honor the full amount. The agreement included a player option and the ability to veto any trade as a safeguard.
However, the team struggled significantly, both on and off the court. The franchise, already facing allegations of salary cap circumvention related to the Aspiration scandal, suffered further self-inflicted setbacks, including a contentious fallout with franchise icon Chris Paul.
As losses accumulated, pressure mounted. The Clippers were 6-21 on December 20, tied with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, and ahead of only the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards.
It was at this point, sources involved in the negotiations indicate, that teams around the league began reaching out to the Clippers regarding their three intriguing players—Harden, Leonard, and center Ivica Zubac, who was traded to the Indiana Pacers for former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and two first-round picks on Thursday.
Simultaneously, Harden’s representatives began exploring which teams might be interested in him, aiming to get ahead of potential trade discussions.
Harden expressed interest in rejoining the Houston Rockets, sources say, as a natural fit since their point guard, Fred Van Vleet, had torn his ACL before the season. However, the Rockets showed little interest in their former MVP.
Cleveland, on the other hand, was intrigued by how Harden could enhance their two standout big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, while alleviating some of the burden on dynamic shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.
As discussions between the teams progressed, Harden and the Clippers attempted to revive their season, while the Cavaliers evaluated whether their current roster was capable of contending for a title.
Eventually, reality set in for both sides.
LATE LAST WEEK, as the trade deadline approached, negotiations between the teams intensified, sources report. Harden missed a game in Phoenix on Sunday and another against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday as discussions escalated.
Officially, the team listed Harden as out for personal reasons—a common approach when players are on the verge of being traded. However, this signaled to the rest of the league that Harden might be available despite the Clippers’ recent success.
This became even more evident when Harden was spotted on the sidelines at his alma mater, Arizona State, during their game against No. 1 Arizona on Sunday night, approximately 20 minutes from where his teammates were competing against the Suns.
By Monday, speculation regarding Harden’s unexpected emergence in the NBA trade landscape was rampant, creating an unusual atmosphere at Monday’s game in Los Angeles.
Players from both the Clippers and 76ers barely concealed their conversations about the possibility of Harden being traded before the deadline. When news of the discussions with Cleveland surfaced during the game, there appeared to be open dialogue on the court.
That was not the only topic of conversation, however. After months of inactivity, the prospect of an update or resolution regarding the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap due to Leonard’s endorsement deal with former team sponsor Aspiration has been gaining attention.
Although sources close to Harden deny that the potential consequences of the investigation influenced his decision to accept the trade, the league-wide interest in the investigation’s outcome has been hard to overlook.
By Tuesday, Harden was aware that the trade was likely to proceed and had resolved not to veto it when it did.
“It made sense for both parties,” Harden told ESPN. “I didn’t want to feel like I was hindering the Clippers’ future. I wanted them to have a genuine opportunity to rebuild and acquire some draft assets.
“And in Cleveland, I see a chance to compete in the East. They have a very strong team, coaching staff, and everything else. So, as much as I wanted to remain in LA and give it a shot—I’ve never won one before. And as a basketball thinker, I believe we have a better chance.”
Harden mentioned he would always ponder what might have been in LA had Leonard and George been healthy during the playoffs.
“In life, not just basketball, when things don’t go as planned, there are ways to conclude relationships without animosity,” Harden stated. “Perhaps we simply don’t envision a future together. Maybe we have just outgrown each other.”
Harden perceived a more promising future for himself in Cleveland. The Clippers recognized a more favorable future with Garland, a 26-year-old, two-time All-Star. The Cavaliers determined their future needed to commence immediately.
