NBA teams think Clippers’ James Harden could be traded originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled to start the season, and people in NBA circles are beginning to wonder about the trade availability of the team’s stars.
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Other teams are expecting guard James Harden to be in trade discussions ahead of February’s deadline, per veteran NBA insider Marc Stein.
“One veteran executive read my recent item about James Harden’s potential availability between now and the Feb. 5 deadline and said his front office, to name at least one, indeed projects the NBA’s last American-born MVP (from the 2017-18 season) to wind up in trade play at some point this winter,” Stein wrote.
Stein wrote in his “The Stein Line” Substack last week that the Clippers continue to refute reports that they are shopping Harden. But teams believe Harden could be acquired for the right price.
“The Clippers continue to shoot down that notion (for now). Also: Don’t forget Harden holds veto rights on any trade even though he does not have a full no-trade clause in his contract.”
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Harden has had a nice season so far, averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 26 games. He’s shooting 43.3% from the field, 37.3% from deep and 88.3% from the line. He’s in his third season with the Clippers and has played in 26 of the teams 28 games so far.
The Clippers (7-21) have had a tumultuous season. They’re 13th in the Western Conference, ahead of only the New Orleans Pelicans (7-22) and Sacramento Kings (6-22). LA received more tough news on Sunday when center Ivica Zubac was ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury.
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