RealGM

LAC OUT
James Harden
P.J. Tucker
Bones Hyland

LAC IN
Fred Vanvleet
Cam Whitmore
2025 Phx/Hou pick (the pick that will be swapped 3x)
2026 SRP
2026 SRP

HOU OUT
Fred Vanvleet
Cam Whitmore
2025 Phx/Hou pick (the pick that will be swapped 3x)
2026 SRP
2026 SRP

Why for Houston?
Upgrade on Fred without emptying warchest. They don't need touch any of their A tier assets and get an all star level guard who is only making low 30's for this year and the next to see if they can make it out of the West. The rest of the salary is expiring after this season. Can close games with James, Amen, Brooks, Smith Jr, Sengun. That James/Sengun PnR will be lethal with their combined passing and Sengun's finishing. Harden had also expressed interest in returning to Houston in the past and now that they are in a more competitive situation I think a reunion might help as they need one go to scorer to help fix their offensive from relying on Fred's bricks and Jalen Green.

Why for Clippers
The team is flailing with aging stars and no real pathway to winning a championship. With this trade they remain competitive while picking up a first and additional picks along with a young player with upside in Cam. Fred is still a winning player and has played next to Norm and Kawhi in the past. His contract is not fully guaranteed so they can bring him back on a cheaper deal in the offseason. I think the biggest point of contention will be the pick compensation but I think something fair can be reached if the above isn't enough

Yeah, I see no reason Clippers punt on Harden for a pick in the mid 20s, two future seconds and a meh prospect. Even if, value wise, this is more than enough for James.

Harden, despite his wildly inefficient year, has been an absolute key reason why the Clippers are 15-11 and not 5-21. With Fred instead, I don't think they'd be close to double digit wins.

ejftw wrote:Yeah, I see no reason Clippers punt on Harden for a pick in the mid 20s, two future seconds and a meh prospect. Even if, value wise, this is more than enough for James.

Harden, despite his wildly inefficient year, has been an absolute key reason why the Clippers are 15-11 and not 5-21. With Fred instead, I don't think they'd be close to double digit wins.

This is where the pick compensation can be discussed. Would you need another first to make this palatable?

Even with Harden, the Clippers are a play-in team that at best can be a tough first round out, and its not like the Clippers have another way of turning Harden into assets given the landscape of the NBA and his age + contract. At this point its safe to assume Kawhi isn't a major contributor for the team either.

Getting Cam Whitmore and some picks for an aging Harden leading the team no where isn't a total loss imo. The Clippers have very few picks of their own as well

If Harden comes that cheap the Nets can easily beat that offer.

We were balling out with Dennis Schroeder.

You give us Harden we are going deep in the playoffs.

How does the value change if you want to keep FVV and use Jalen instead? Houston can/should add more..

If Houston is trading to win now, I don’t think you keep Green and lose Fred..

LAC have not used their MLE so dumping Tate on Detroit and then taking back Jock feels easy..

We will wait till Harden is ready to come back for minimum or MLE money.

drchaos wrote:If Harden comes that cheap the Nets can easily beat that offer.

We were balling out with Dennis Schroeder.

You give us Harden we are going deep in the playoffs.

You didn't go deep in the playoffs when you last had him--and a lot more talent around him. I appreciate you think every player on the Nets is really good and super valuable, but I'm not sure that's true.

And no chance there is a Harden reunion in Brooklyn. Neither side wants that.

LarsV8 wrote:We will wait till Harden is ready to come back for minimum or MLE money.

When he's not as good as a player and can't help at all? Lol when would he do that?

drchaos wrote:If Harden comes that cheap the Nets can easily beat that offer.

We were balling out with Dennis Schroeder.

You give us Harden we are going deep in the playoffs.

Don't think the Nets are trying to be competitive and no I don't believe Harden with the Nets would even make the second round. Would be a bad acquisition from Brooklyn