On Oct. 31, James Harden was traded to Los Angeles, among others, for four players and six draft picks. James Harden started off his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009-10 season. He played there until he got traded to the Houston Rockets after the 2011-12 season. Harden played the next nine seasons in Houston. During Harden’s time with the Rockets, he made the Western Conference Finals four times. After the 2020-21 season Harden requested a trade. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
After lasting only one season, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2021-22 season. He was in Philadelphia until this trade.
While never missing the postseason in his career, James has struggled the past few years with how he has been playing. He has been in a slump ever since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. With Harden being traded to the Clippers, people are wondering what kind of player he will be. With the Clippers already having Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russel Westbrook, Harden could become a valuable asset to an all-star roster.
Senior varsity basketball player Henry Lambert gives his opinion.
“The James Harden trade that sent him to the Clippers was a good win-now win by LA,” said Lambert. “By the end of the season they will be a top 5 seed and legit Championship contender. They just need time.”
Harden could be a valuable asset if he becomes a team player. This is also the second time Westbrook and Harden have been on the same team. They played together on both the Thunder and the Rockets. It will be interesting with both Rusell and Harden’s slumps the past couple of seasons. With Leonard, George, and Rusell already on the team, Harden could become the key link to taking the Clippers to another Western Conference Finals and maybe even further.
