More details on James Harden wanting to move on from the Los Angeles Clippers
The NBA world was shocked ahead of the trade deadline when James Harden was moved from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.
The Clippers had high expectations coming into the season with Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac returning along with the additions of John Collins, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul, but the team started off 6-21, Beal was lost for the season due to a hip fracture four games in, and Paul's second tenure ended abruptly when he was dimissed from the team in early December.
Despite the struggles in the first two months, by the trade deadline, the Clippers were 23-26 and battling for a play-in spot.
That wasn't enough to convince Harden to stay.
A Near Houston Reunion
While Harden was sent to Cleveland, a reunion with the Rockets is reportedly what Harden was eyeing.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports, "James Harden’s representatives reached out to the Houston Rockets while the Clippers were in the midst of their 6-21 start to gauge their interest in a trade. The Rockets were not interested."
The Rockets made their big splash in the offseason, acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and draft capital.
Harden previously played in Houston from 2012 to 2020 before the relationship went sour, and he was moved to the Brooklyn Nets, where he reunited with Durant, his teammate for his first three seasons in the league on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
What It Have Worked In Houston?
It is unclear what Houston would've given up in a potential trade for Harden, or if the Clippers would've been interested in the return.
To make Harden's salary work, Fred VanVleet, who suffered an ACL injury in the offseason and didn't play this year, likely would have been included in the deal.
The Rockets were in desperate need of a point guard after VanVleet's injury, entrusting their offense with Amen Thompson, who is not a natural point guard, and Reed Sheppard, a sophomore who barely played in his rookie season.
Sheppard may have been included in the deal for Harden given his age, upside, and Houston's likely unwillingness to part with Alperen Sengun or Thompson in a potential deal for Harden.
There's no doubt Harden would've been a boost to Houston's often-stagnant and Durant-reliant offense.
In the end, Harden ended up in a situation where he's able to compete for a title in a wide-open Eastern Conference alongside another elite scorer and two bigs who complement his game.