The NBA world was stunned on Tuesday when the Houston Rockets agreed to trade their superstar guard James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers in a four-team deal that also involved the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The trade, which had been rumored for weeks, finally became official on Wednesday after all the players involved passed their physicals.
The details of the trade
According to ESPN, the Clippers sent guard Patrick Beverley, forward Paul George, center Ivica Zubac, and four future first-round picks to the Rockets in exchange for Harden and forward PJ Tucker. The Rockets then flipped George to the Nets for guard Kyrie Irving, center DeAndre Jordan, and three future first-round picks. The Nets also sent guard Spencer Dinwiddie and a second-round pick to the Cavaliers, who sent center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince to the Rockets.
The trade was one of the biggest in NBA history, involving 12 players and eight draft picks. It also reshaped the landscape of the league, creating a new superteam in Los Angeles and breaking up another one in Brooklyn.
The reaction from the players
Harden, who had been unhappy with the Rockets for months and had requested a trade before the season started, was ecstatic to join the Clippers and reunite with his former teammate Russell Westbrook, who was traded from Houston to Los Angeles in July. Harden arrived at the Crypto.com Arena before the Clippers’ game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night and was greeted by Westbrook, coach Ty Lue, and other players in the locker room.
“I’m just happy to be here, man. This is a great opportunity for me to play with Russ again and compete for a championship,” Harden said in a video posted by the Clippers on their social media accounts. “I want to thank the Rockets for everything they did for me, but I’m ready for a new chapter in my career.”
Westbrook, who had played with Harden for three seasons in Houston and eight seasons in Oklahoma City before that, was equally thrilled to have his friend and former MVP by his side.
“It’s amazing, man. It’s a blessing. We’ve been through a lot together, we’ve grown together, we’ve won together, we’ve lost together. We have a special bond that nobody can break,” Westbrook said. “I’m just excited to have him here and go out there and play some basketball.”
The Clippers’ other star, Kawhi Leonard, who had reportedly recruited Harden to join him and Westbrook in Los Angeles, was also happy with the trade.
“He’s a great player, one of the best scorers in the league. He can create for himself and others. He can play multiple positions. He’s going to make us a better team,” Leonard said.
On the other side of the trade, Irving and George were not as pleased with their new destinations. Irving, who had been away from the Nets for personal reasons and had not played since January 5, was reportedly unhappy with the trade and did not want to leave Brooklyn. George, who had signed a four-year extension with the Clippers in December, was also surprised by the trade and felt betrayed by the organization.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m still processing everything. I thought I was going to be here for a long time. I thought we had something special. I guess not,” Irving said in a brief statement to reporters on Wednesday.
George echoed Irving’s sentiments and expressed his disappointment with how the Clippers handled the situation.
“I feel like they didn’t give us a fair chance. We had a great team. We had some injuries and some bad luck in the playoffs last year, but we were ready to bounce back this year. They didn’t even talk to me or PG before they made this move. They just blindsided us,” George said.
The impact of the trade
The trade has huge implications for both conferences and the title race this season. The Clippers, who are currently second in the Western Conference with a 15-4 record, have added one of the best offensive players in NBA history to their already potent lineup. Harden, who is averaging 24.8 points, 10.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game this season, will form a formidable trio with Westbrook and Leonard, who are both averaging over 25 points per game. The Clippers also added some depth and defense with Tucker, who is known as one of the best versatile defenders in the league.
The Clippers will have to adjust their style of play and chemistry with their new additions, but they have a proven coach in Lue, who won a championship with LeBron James and Irving in Cleveland in 2016. The Clippers will also have to deal with some tough competition in the West, especially from their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, who are the defending champions and have the best record in the league at 17-3.
The Nets, who are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 12-9 record, have lost two of their best players in Irving and George, who were both All-Stars last season. The Nets still have Kevin Durant, who is having an MVP-caliber season after missing all of last year with an Achilles injury. Durant is averaging 30.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game and shooting 52.3% from the field and 43.4% from three-point range. The Nets also have some talented role players like Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, and Landry Shamet, who can provide some shooting and defense.
The Nets will have to hope that Irving and George can fit in with their new team and coach Steve Nash, who is in his first year as a head coach. The Nets will also have to face some stiff competition in the East, especially from the Philadelphia 76ers, who are led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and have the best record in the conference at 15-6.
The trade has shaken up the NBA and created a lot of excitement and intrigue for the fans and the media. It remains to be seen how the trade will play out on the court and who will come out on top at the end of the season.
