Ex-NBA Player Predicts James Harden Joins Lakers

In a May 24 article called “Surprise Landing Spots for Top 2023 NBA Free Agents,” Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report listed the Lakers as a potential landing spot for Harden, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. 

“The Lakers actually make a lot of sense for Harden, especially if Kyrie Irving re-signs with the Dallas Mavericks and L.A. has already seen enough out of D’Angelo Russell,” Swartz wrote. “A backcourt of Harden and Austin Reaves would lessen LeBron James’ ball-handling responsibilities, assuming he doesn’t retire, of course. Anthony Davis’ rim protection can make up for a lot of Harden’s defensive deficiencies on the perimeter as well.

“A Los Angeles native who played his high school basketball in the area until attending Arizona State, this would be a homecoming of sorts for Harden, who would have a real chance at winning his first title alongside James and Davis.”

Harden averaged 21.0 points and 10.7 assists this season for the Sixers while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. The 10-time All-Star led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.

Harden and the Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games. The Beard finished the 2023 postseason with averages of 20.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 11 games versus the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics.

The Lakers could — and should — replace D’Angelo Russell with Harden, who will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer one day. Russell played poorly in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, averaging 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the floor and 13.3% from 3-point land.