76ers’ James Harden reacts after the play during a playoff game against the Nets on April 17 in Philadelphia. (Derrick Hamilton – Associated Press)
Basketball star James Harden has requested another trade, this time to the Los Angeles Clippers. Fortunately, he doesn’t have Cleveland in his sights.
The NBA is made up of some of the best athletes in the world, and when their players are focused on basketball (this is not a commentary on the positions some may take on social issues), they are great to watch. It’s fun. But there are also pampered millionaire brats in their late 20s or older. Harden is one such player.
Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman is trying to make sure the players he acquires put the team first and have everyone pulling the rope in the same direction. Donovan Mitchell is a legitimate superstar, and Altman paid significant trade capital to acquire him from the Utah Jazz in September 2022. But Mitchell is a team player.
You might be thinking, “Yeah, but how many championships have the Cavs won with this philosophy?”
The answer is zero after Mitchell spent just one season with the Cavaliers, but take your time and think about it. The Cavaliers improved from 44 wins in 2022-23 to 51 wins last season. They were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last spring.
Altman improved the roster by signing forward Georges Niang and guard Ty Jerome in free agency and acquiring small forward Max Strus in a trade with the Miami Heat. Only time will tell how successful this move will be.
“Our offseason was inspired by the way last year ended,” Altman said. “With such a positive, high-character young group, it’s clear this series is moving in the right direction. We’re excited about the future. We’re really looking forward to this year. ”
Harden, selected by Oklahoma City with the third overall pick in the 2009 draft, played three seasons with the Thunder and nine seasons with the Rockets, two with the Nets and the other two with the Sixers. He is a 10-time All-Star, three-time NBA scoring leader, two-time league assist leader, and was named MVP in 2018. However, there are no championship rings.
Oklahoma City tried to sign Harden to a contract extension in the 2012 offseason. He did not agree to his contract and was traded to the Houston Rockets. Harden said the Thunder didn’t give him enough time to think through the offer before being traded.
Harden played in Houston for almost a decade. He requested a trade in November 2020 and was ultimately traded to Brooklyn about two months later. The Cavaliers were part of a complex four-team trade that also included the Pacers. The Cavs acquired center Jarrett Allen in a trade that sent the Rockets’ Dante Exum and an unprotected 2022 first-round draft pick via Milwaukee.
The Nets paid a huge price for Harden. They traded four first-round picks with the Rockets and agreed to a trade for four first-round picks. The Nets thought they would build a dynasty with Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but that didn’t work out.
Harden again asked to sit out. Less than 13 months after acquiring Harden, the Nets traded Harden and Paul Millsap for Ben Simmons (another whiner), Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks. He was traded to the Sixers in a trade.
At a shoe event in China, Harden called Sixers president Daryl Morey a “liar” and vowed never to play for the Sixers again. Harden has missed practice.
Harden wants to be traded to the Clippers. They have not agreed on compensation.
History repeats itself, so no team should give up high trade value for Harden, who turned 34 in August.
I did not know that
…until I read about Snapple bottle caps.
There are more trees on Earth than there are stars in the Milky Way. According to Nature Journal, there are approximately 3 trillion trees on Earth. …A kangaroo cannot jump unless its tail touches the ground. …Mosquitoes prefer type O people. … Silly String was originally designed as a spray-on cast for fractures and sprains. The inventor noticed that the substance coming out of the nozzle turned into a 30-foot thin thread, made it less sticky, added color, and sold it as a toy. …Giant squid have eyes the size of volleyballs. …The average raindrop weighs less than an eyelash.
