By: Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Lawrence Murray
The Philadelphia 76ers are trading star guard James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, per league sources. Here’s what you need to know:
- In exchange for Harden, the Clippers are sending Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, KJ Martin, Marcus Morris Sr. and draft picks to the 76ers. Along with Harden, Philadelphia is sending P.J. Tucker to Los Angeles.
- The draft picks Philadelphia is receiving amount to a 2028 first-round pick, two second-round picks and a pick swap from Los Angeles. The 76ers are also expected to receive an additional future first-round pick from a third team.
- Harden requested a trade from the 76ers in June and made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to be sent to the Clippers. Deals with the Clippers were discussed over the summer and The Athletic reported on Oct. 17 that the sides were still engaged in trade talks.
- The 34-year-old guard has not played yet this season as he was away from the team earlier this month. He rejoined the team on the bench Sunday and was set to practice with the 76ers on Tuesday as part of his conditioning and ramp-up to return.
- Both the Clippers and 76ers are 2-1 to open the 2023-24 season. News of the trade was first reported by ESPN.
BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading James Harden and PJ Tucker to the Los Angeles Clippers for Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and KJ Martin, and draft picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/4gwGJgrYUb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2023
Backstory
A 10-time All-Star, Harden was named the 2018 NBA MVP and brings career averages of 24.7 points and 7.0 assists per game to Los Angeles. He led the league in assists per game in 2022-23, his first full season with the 76ers after arriving in Philadelphia from a trade with Brooklyn at the 2022 trade deadline.
The Clippers will make the fourth team Harden has played with since forcing his way out of Houston in 2021. In Los Angeles, he will reunite with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook and join a core of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as the Clippers look to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Required reading
(Photo: Adam Pantozzi / NBAE via Getty Images)
