Top 5 Landing Spots For James Harden Following Failed Clippers Season
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 02: James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers stands for the national anthem before their game Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 02, 2024 in Sacramento, California. Where will Harden land this summer?
With the Los Angeles Clippers’ early playoff exit at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, it has left Los Angeles staring directly into a potentially grim reality. Once again, injuries were the narrative of their season but this time, the organization may have drastic changes coming. Stars Paul George and James Harden could both leave the team in free agency, even if reports say that the organization wants to keep them together.
Harden is an actual free agent, with George needing to decline his player option to become one. Harden has become somewhat of a negative asset to his teams over the years, even if he put together a good showing with the Clippers this season.
Los Angeles will need to decide if they want to commit long-term to this unit, which includes retaining Harden despite his poor playoff struggles again.
If Harden does leave the Clippers, there will be interested teams. Here are five potential landing spots for the former MVP this summer.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
In most scenarios, Harden will end up back with the Clippers. However, nothing is a forgone conclusion within the NBA. But the veteran guard seemed happy to be in his hometown.
Harden said after Game 6 that he wasn’t sure what he would do regarding his contract. But he would probably prefer to stay with the Clippers if possible.
“I don’t even know,” Harden reflected postgame, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Harden finished with 16 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds Friday but missed all six of his three-point attempts. “You are asking a lot of questions that I don’t have the answer to or haven’t even thought about.”
Harden wasn’t a full distraction for this Clippers team, something he has had issues with in the past. Unless something drastic happens, such as contract negotiations go south, expect Harden to be back with the Clippers next year.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs were once a proud organization and the class of the NBA. But multiple poor seasons in a row have left them reeling and searching for any sign of hope. Landing the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft last season has seemed to do the trick and Victor Wembanyama looks like the next NBA superstar.
Pairing Harden up with Wembanyama could be scary for the rest of the league. The pick-and-roll offense alone would be lethal, creating relevance for the Spurs once again. San Antonio may need to make some moves to open more cap space up to outright sign the former MVP or they could try to pull a sign-and-trade with the Clippers.
3. Orlando Magic
The Magic are still in the playoffs, currently preparing to face off in a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Orlando has grown up a lot this season. They still need a point guard to help run the offense and Harden could be the missing piece for them.
Pairing up with young sensation Paolo Banchero could be interesting, giving the Magic more credibility within the Eastern Conference. Orlando should have plenty of cap space to work with this summer, opening the door to them landing Harden without giving anything up.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans was swept out of the postseason by the Oklahoma City Thunder this season and changes are likely coming to them as well. The Pelicans could use a more true point guard to take guard CJ McCollum off the ball, potentially opening the door for Harden to come in.
The Pelicans would likely need to make a trade to land Harden so a sign-and-trade may be possible. In the event that George departs the Clippers, maybe they’ll look to New Orleans for Brandon Ingram. A swap of Harden for Ingram, with some extra pieces included, could work out well for both sides.
Evan Sidery of Forbes reported that New Orleans isn’t likely to offer Ingram a contract extension and that they could move him this summer. Landing Harden would be a financial commitment for the Pelicans but not as much if they were to extend Ingram.
New Orleans would get a point guard who can facilitate the offense around Zion Williamson, and the Clippers would replace George with a younger, more lengthy forward. It could be a win-win for both sides if the normally disgruntled Harden has his eyes set on New Orleans.
5. Houston Rockets
Just last season, the Rockets were one of the top landing spots for Harden, but nothing ever materialized. Could Houston look to their former star to once again help lift them forward?
It’s possible but unlikely. The biggest hurdle was Rockets head coach Ime Udoka not being too big of a fan of bringing Harden back.
“Nothing against James,” Udoka told Zach Lowe of ESPN, “but Fred is just a better fit. I coached James in Brooklyn. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around. The words ‘Ime doesn’t want James’ never came out of my mouth. It was, ‘Let’s look at the best fit.’
The Rockets have created a strong culture without him so going back to him could ruin that. Houston is never out of the running when it comes to Harden but it’s the least likely from this list of teams.
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