What I’m hearing on James Harden, Giannis and more as NBA trade deadline nears – The Athletic
When the news broke late Monday night that James Harden was working with the LA Clippers to find him a new basketball home (again) before Thursday’s trade deadline, there was only one natural question to be asked: Why?
After all, the Clippers had somehow survived their 6-21 start by winning 17 of their next 21 games and getting all the way to ninth in the Western Conference. Harden, who carried the miserable workload in those down days admirably, averaged 24.6 points, 8.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds during that incredible bounceback stretch (in 19 games).
So … all was well again, right?!
Wrong — in so many predictable ways that we should have seen coming.
As league sources close to Harden discussed with The Athletic, the Clippers’ long-term plan of clearing their salary cap books for the summer of 2027 was a factor in this decision. Here he was playing elite-level basketball at age 36, knowing full well that the organization is widely expected to pivot away from this current core two summers from now, and the present day suddenly crashed headlong into his unknown hoops future.
If you somehow missed it in all the previous reporting, the Clippers are hell-bent on chasing all the top superstars in ’27 free agency. As it stands, the only Clippers player with guaranteed money for that season is center Ivica Zubac ($20.9 million). Add in the uniqueness of Harden’s current contract, how his $42.3 million salary for next season could be slashed to $13.3 million if he were to be waived by July 11, and you start to understand why both parties now find themselves looking for a mutually beneficial way out of this partnership.
As multiple outlets reported, league sources confirmed that the Clippers have had discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers about swapping Harden for 26-year-old former All-Star guard Darius Garland. Yet while league-wide chatter had been emerging recently about the notion of Garland being available — either now or in the offseason — league sources say the Cavaliers have pushed for the Clippers to include significant draft compensation in any such swap. To this point, the sources said, that has been an obstacle in the talks.
The fact that Harden missed the last two Clippers games for what the team has labeled “personal reasons” sparked speculation that his absences were tied to the trade talks, but the sources close to him insisted that was not the case. Harden was not with the team during its loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Intuit Dome on Monday night, and it remains unclear if he’ll be back to play against — wait for it — the Cavs in a home game on Wednesday night. Garland, it should be noted, has not played since Jan. 14 because of a toe injury that has proven to be worse than originally believed.
Regardless of what comes next, it’s quite clear that this was a case of Harden doing everything he could to get ahead of his own situation. We’ve seen this sort of script before, too, in Harden’s exits from the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and the Sixers. None of those departures was a carbon copy of any other, but the theme remains the same: When Harden doesn’t like what he sees on the horizon, he decides that it’s time to go.
The Clippers, meanwhile, now face the prospect of hosting the All-Star game later this month with this not-so-fun backdrop: Not only is the league’s investigation into the Aspiration scandal looming like a dark cloud, but neither Leonard nor Harden were selected for the West team (though as our John Hollinger pointed out, commissioner Adam Silver could be compelled to select Leonard as an injury replacement).
Giannis watch
To deal (Giannis Antetokounmpo) or not to deal …
That is the question for Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst as the deadline nears.
As of Monday evening, the offers coming the Bucks’ way for the “Greek Freak” were still believed to be so underwhelming — in the eyes of rival executives and agents — that this saga looked likely to extend into the summertime.
After all, this elaborate fact-finding mission is still meaningful for the Bucks when it comes to understanding Antetokounmpo’s market — no matter when (or if) he’s dealt.
“This has been like ‘General Hospital’ back in the days — the longest running drama ever,” one league executive joked.
Anyone with a keyboard and Hollinger’s old trade machine can see that there are no “Godfather” offers to be found from the rosters of the top suitors (Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and New York Knicks). These have the makings of “The Godfather Part III” packages, really, considering the full scope of Antetokounmpo’s eventual impact (his concerning right calf strain be darned).
The mere fact that the Warriors are seen by some as a frontrunner here is quite telling.
If the Warriors’ best offer, as many suspect, is four first-round picks and a first-round swap alongside Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, then how can Horst turn to Bucks fans and sell a story of survival in the post-Antetokounmpo era? Ditto for the packages that are most often discussed with the Heat, Knicks and Timberwolves.
On the flip side, the fact that all of these teams are choosing to stay in the hunt — and yes, per a team source, that still includes the Knicks — is revealing in its own right. There’s an internal price that is sometimes paid to be part of this sort of high-profile process.
As great as Antetokounmpo is, the harsh reality is that every player who gets tied to trade proposals as a result of his availability is likely displeased to be part of that discussion. It’s one thing to be a role player who might be included in this kind of deal, but landing a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber — and cost — means that foundational players are almost assuredly, and unexpectedly, sent packing.
To that point, league sources say Green and his camp are well aware that the prospect of him being sent to Milwaukee is very real. As our Nick Friedell reported on Monday, Jimmy Butler has been given strong indications that the Warriors plan to “stick by him as he begins a year-long rehab” from his recently torn ACL. And if Butler isn’t in the proposed deal — based on the economics and league rules — then Green is.
What’s more, league sources say the Bucks are known to be prioritizing impact players in talks and, as such, would prefer a healthy player like Green as opposed to one in Butler who likely won’t return until midway through next season. As for Green, the chance remains — if the Warriors found a way to pull this off — that he might push his way to another team or, perhaps, go the free agency route this summer (he has a player option for $27.6 million for next season).
For the Timberwolves’ part, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Monday that they’re on the lookout for a third or fourth team to help improve their offer. Our Jon Krawczynski, in turn, detailed why Minnesota is very much in this Giannis race.
The Warriors and every other suitor should hope the Timberwolves don’t find any help from other teams here, as the prospect of them offering Jaden McDaniels and additional draft capital (on top of what they currently have) might be enough to change this conversation.
Or maybe the Bucks do all this recon and then reconvene a few months from now, when the proposals will be more plentiful and the playoffs, inevitably, inspire even more interest among the would-be suitors who fell short.
The Cavs’ conundrum
Long before the Harden news was known, there was league-wide chatter about whether the Cavs could land a star player with the hopes of returning to title-contending status. And, yes, in case you wondered, that includes the likes of Antetokounmpo.
While Cleveland has won eight of its last 10 games — nothing to sneeze at, to be sure — the fact remains that the Cavs hovered around the .500 mark (22-19) when the halfway point of the season hit. Their second-apron status has been well chronicled, but league sources say they’ve explored ways of trading the contract of big man Jarrett Allen ($90.7 million combined in the next three seasons) as a way of unlocking much bigger possibilities.
That situation is worth monitoring, if only because moving Allen would expand their list of dreamy possibilities. Donovan Mitchell is extension eligible this summer, with a player option in the 2027 offseason that surely applies organizational pressure in times like these, so it’s safe to say that the Cavs are looking at any and all options.
Around the league
• As I wrote late last week, the Toronto Raptors are indeed a serious suitor for the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis. Yet as team and league sources shared on Monday, the Raptors need to find a new home for big man Jakob Poeltl — outside of Sacramento — if the Sabonis deal is going to happen. The Kings, the sources say, have made it clear that they aren’t willing to take on the $103 million combined that’s owed to Poeltl in the next four seasons ($81.2 million is guaranteed). And unless you see a deal unfold where Poeltl heads elsewhere to clear room for Sabonis, this is one of those ongoing discussions that will likely resume in the offseason. There’s real interest from the Raptors in Sabonis, though.
• Sticking with the Kings, a league source indicates that veteran guard Zach LaVine fully intends on picking up his player option for next season ($48.9 million). This was widely assumed to be the case, of course, and has everything to do with the fact that he’s not expected to be moved by the deadline.
• The Charlotte Hornets have found something special of late, winning 10 of their last 13 games — and seven straight — after starting just 13-25. It should come as no surprise, then, that one of their key contributors, small forward Miles Bridges, is now expected to stay put. While there is significant interest around the league, with the Bucks, Warriors and Phoenix Suns known to covet what the 27-year-old brings on the floor, a league source close to Bridges said he is highly likely to remain past the deadline. Bridges’ contract runs through next season, when he’s owed $22.8 million. He’s extension eligible this summer.
