[Saba Sports News] James Harden has been traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski late on Monday night.
In exchange for Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev, the Sixers are receiving Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, and several draft picks. These picks include an unprotected first-round pick in 2028, two second-round picks, and a pick swap, along with a future first-round pick from a third team, according to Wojnarowski’s report.
This trade marks the exact outcome that Harden had been pursuing throughout the entire offseason.
Despite being 34 years old, Harden surprisingly exercised his player option for the 2023-2024 season, effectively keeping him with the 76ers rather than allowing him to become a free agent. Subsequently, he demanded a trade and publicly criticized 76ers executive Daryl Morey.
Harden had been seeking a trade to the Clippers, but no deal materialized over the following months, leaving him on the 76ers’ roster as the season began.
During the preseason, Harden was seen at the 76ers’ facility, but once the regular season started, he was prevented from traveling with the team. The latest information indicated that the Clippers were shutting down trade talks involving Harden, but evidently, circumstances rapidly changed in that regard.