James Harden trade to the LA Clippers marks the culmination of a prolonged offseason trade saga for the former MVP with his contract and salary details now out
The Philadelphia 76ers have finally reached an agreement on a trade package, bringing Harden together with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, Russell Westbrook, in the City of Angels.
James Harden LA Clippers trade contract details, salary, net worth in 2023
Welcome to #ClipperNation, James Harden! pic.twitter.com/ff6fut11yW
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 1, 2023
Harden is entering the final year of his current contract, with a salary of $35.6 million for the upcoming season. Beyond that, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Harden has a current net worth of $165 million.
The Clippers are now responsible for Harden’s $35,640,000 salary for the 2023-2024 season.
As of the time of this writing, the specific details of the Clippers’ trade package for Harden have not been disclosed. Nevertheless, the Clippers may have been cautious about relinquishing too many assets for a player who could depart in the upcoming summer.
Despite Harden’s undeniable talent, he has gained a reputation for causing disruption within teams when he becomes discontented. The Clippers are in their last season sharing an arena with the Los Angeles Lakers, and their owner, Steve Ballmer, aspires for the team to contend for championships.
The combination of Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George has shown promise at the beginning of the season, and adding Harden could significantly boost the team’s offensive capabilities.
Coach Ty Lue will face the challenge of optimizing the performance of these four-star talents, potentially dealing with an issue of distributing playing time and responsibilities.
After his return to Philadelphia at the start of the season, James Harden was temporarily separated from the team as he focused on regaining his fitness. Given his limited involvement in training camp, he was away from the team for a significant period.
Now that Harden is approaching full fitness, he is expected to be integrated into the Clippers’ rotation at the earliest opportunity. Coach Ty Lue will need to experiment with various combinations and lineups to foster team chemistry, establish good habits, and deliver impressive performances.
While James Harden may not be the prolific scorer he once was remained one of the NBA’s premier playmakers, especially in orchestrating an offense in half-court situations.
Nonetheless, Russell Westbrook has thrived in a ball-dominant role for the Clippers, and Harden may find his niche as a catch-and-shoot threat on his new team. The utilization of these talents and their on-court cohesion will be intriguing to observe.
The addition of James Harden to the Clippers provides an opportunity for the team to assert dominance, but it also raises questions about the distribution of touches and roles among the star-studded roster.
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