The Los Angeles Clippers are interested in acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers and Malcolm Brogdon from the Portland Trail Blazers. According to NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Clippers want Harden more than they want Brogdon.
“The Clippers want Harden,” Lowe said on his podcast. “It’s a real thing. They want Harden. They want him more than they want Malcolm Brogdon. Pretty confident in that. And the fact that they’re this interested in Harden — interested enough to throw out an unprotected pick or whatever it is, whatever offer they’ve thrown out — I think is a vote of slight anxiety at the very least that their team as presently constructed is simply not good enough to win the title.”
Harden, who led the NBA in assists per game last season, requested a trade from the Sixers to the Clippers in June. A deal hasn’t been made since Philadelphia wants Terance Mann and Los Angeles doesn’t want to part ways with the guard.
Harden averaged 21.0 points and 10.7 assists last season. Clippers stars Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George want Los Angeles’ front office to acquire The Beard, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
The Clippers almost acquired Brogdon from the Boston Celtics earlier in the offseason before Brogdon’s medical evaluation drove Los Angeles to back out of the trade. Brogdon dealt with a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm last season.
Brogdon won the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 67 games for the Celtics, who traded the veteran to the Blazers in the Jrue Holiday deal.
It will be interesting to see if the Clippers land Harden or Brogdon. Los Angeles is facing a crossroads with its roster since Leonard and George both have player options for the 2024-25 season.
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