NBA Trade Rumors: The LA Clippers’ final offer for James Harden may have been revealed.
Just weeks before the start of the regular season, the LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers remain at somewhat of a standstill when it comes to James Harden. Harden still wants to be traded despite the fact that he has reported and is participating in Sixers training camp and the Clippers very much remain interested in Harden.
However, there appears to be vast differences in what the Clippers are willing to give up and what the Sixers are asking for. Quite frankly, from everything that’s been reported, it seems that the Clippers have given what’s close to their final offer for Harden.
The LA Clippers’ rumored current offer for James Harden
One of the latest updates from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it’s believed that the Clippers are the team that has offered the most to the Sixers for Harden. At the same rate, the Sixers believe Harden is worth more.
Here is exactly what’s been reported about what could be LA’s final offer for Harden:
"They’ve offered first-round pick, a pick swap, and expiring contracts."
The expiring contracts that are likely on the table for the Sixers are Marcus Morris and/or Robert Covington. It’s been reported previously that the Sixers are holding out for Terance Mann and perhaps multiple future first-round picks to be included in a deal.
With the way the Clippers have operated recently, it doesn’t appear as if that’s going to happen.
Why the LA Clippers aren’t likely to go all-in for James Harden
Essentially, as Woj echoes, the Clippers don’t believe that there’s much of a non-LA market for Harden at the moment. If that is indeed true, it would make no sense for the Clippers to bid against themselves if there’s no other team seriously in the Harden market.
Both the Clippers and Sixers appear to be dug into their ground. Philly is asking for multiple picks and Mann to be included in a deal for Harden, the Clippers are willing to offer on pick, a pick swap, and expiring contracts. It doesn’t appear as if either team is close to caving.
The question is, will that change as we inch closer and closer to the start of the season? If not, is there a way where both give up a little ground and meet in the middle?
The next few weeks will be interesting to watch unfold between the Sixers and Clippers. Eventually, something has to give. I find it hard to believe that Harden will ever play another game in a Sixers uniform. The question is, will he ever play in a Clippers one?