James Harden has (once again) requested a trade.
The 10-time NBA All-Star opted into his $35.6 million deal with the 76ers for next season in an effort to get out of Philadelphia.
It’s the third time in less than three years that the 2017-18 NBA MVP has asked to be moved to a new team.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Kelly Iko, Harden prefers to head home to Southern California and play for the Los Angeles Clippers.
But Harden doesn’t necessarily get to pick his destination, and 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is known to be a tough negotiator.
With that, let’s check out what oddsmakers at DraftKings think about where Harden is most likely to play for next.
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| James Harden 2023-24 team odds |
|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers -180 |
| Philadelphia 76ers +270 |
| New York Knicks +600 |
| Miami Heat +700 |
| Dallas Mavericks +2000 |
| Los Angeles Lakers +2000 |
| Houston Rockets +2000 |
| Phoenix Suns +2500 |
| San Antonio Spurs +4000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves +4000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers +4000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans +4000 |
As mentioned, Harden already has the Clippers at the top of his list.
Los Angeles would love to pair Harden with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but they have very little to give up in a trade other than those two.
The Clippers could theoretically offer up Norman Powell, who could reunite with the 76ers’ new head coach Nick Nurse, and other role players like Marcus Morris and Terance Mann, but I’m not sure this makes Philadelphia a much better team.
At the same time, there might not be many other options for Morey and the Sixers.
Harden has repeatedly asked out of unwanted situations and his playing style doesn’t exactly fit in with most squads.
A 50 cents-on-the-dollar swap with the Clippers may be the best they can do.
There’s always a chance Harden changes his mind, I guess.
Harden and the Sixers could run it back, which would allow him the opportunity to contend for another title with Joel Embiid and hit free agency next offseason.
That probably would be the preferred outcome for the Sixers, but there’s another Harden-returns-to-Philly situation that’s more likely.
Remember, Morey is a stickler when it comes to trades — he held onto Ben Simmons for months despite his trade requests and refusal to take the court.
There is a decent chance he lets this linger into the season and makes a Harden trade closer to the February deadline.
You can’t count out the Knicks, given all their assets and penchant for star-hunting.
Harden would slot in next to Jalen Brunson and immediately give New York perhaps the best backcourt in basketball.
A deal centered around RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley would be much better than anything the Clippers have to offer.
This one is unlikely, but the Knicks were mentioned by ESPN as potential suitors for the future Hall of Famer.