Harden Has Shown Interest in Leaving LA for These Two Teams

The NBA world was completely shocked when Shams Charania broke the news on Monday that the Clippers and James Harden were working on finding a new home for the veteran star. This news came out of nowhere, as nobody was expecting the Clippers to make any big moves at the trade deadline, and especially because nobody thought that if they did, they’d be sellers on Harden. 

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line added to the Harden trade rumors by reporting that Harden had already been eyeing two different NBA teams for his potential next home. 

"Sources say that Harden, through various stretches of this season, has also eyed Minnesota and Atlanta as teams that appeal to him as potential landing spots, but neither the Timberwolves nor the Hawks is expected to pursue such a deal. The Wolves have been focused intently on their pursuit of Antetokounmpo as the deadline draws near. The Hawks, meanwhile, only ever seemed to be a plausible trade partner when they had Trae Young on the roster. Young, of course, was dealt to Washington on Jan. 9, and the Clippers, for that matter, did not show interest in a Harden-for-Young exchange. Sources say Atlanta, for its part, has largely abandoned searching for aggressive moves in the wake of shipping Young to the Wizards… such as the Hawks' well-chronicled pursuit earlier this season of Dallas' Anthony Davis."

Harden may be running out of teams that are interested in having him. While he’s defied age and put up great numbers for over a decade, he hasn’t been able to lead a team to the promised land. 

On top of that, this is Harden’s third trade request in the last six or so seasons. Trading for Harden means you’ll have to completely change your team’s style, probably not win the championship, and then lose him a year or two later.