The Los Angeles Clippers are in turmoil at the bottom end of the NBA Western Conference, winning seven of their first 28 games this season. To revive the franchise, the Clippers must act decisively, and the team’s star man could very well be on the chopping block as trade rumors escalate.
Clippers’ James Harden Seen as a Trade Target, per Insider
According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, “One veteran executive read my recent item about James Harden’s potential availability between now and the Feb. 5 deadline and said his front office, to name at least one, indeed projects the NBA’s last American-born MVP (from the 2017-18 season) to wind up in trade play at some point this winter.”
The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder owns the right to the Clippers’ first-round pick in 2026, and with the Clippers getting worse, the league will be worried about what number OKC will get in the draft to add yet another young superstar to their roster.
Stein doubled down on the fact that “The Clippers continue to shoot down that notion (on Harden being traded for now). Also: Don’t forget Harden holds veto rights on any trade, even though he does not have a full no-trade clause in his contract.”
Despite Harden being able to block a trade, in their current state, the Clippers may have no choice but to get rid of the former MVP to save the franchise. In the summer, the Clippers became the oldest team in NBA history, with an average age of 33.2. They have since cut Chris Paul, but the roster still has seven players over 30.
The Clippers don’t have a first-round draft pick until 2030, and with seven players nearing the end of their careers with limited trade value, they need to do something urgently to stop the rot.
In 26 games this season, Harden has averaged 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, showing his immense value to the league and other teams. In June 2025, he signed a two-year, $81,500,000 contract. The deal pays around $39.2 million in 2025/26 and $42.3 million in 2026/27.
At 36, no one knows how long Harden can continue to perform at an All-Star level, but at this rate, the Clippers can still cash in and gain some draft capital and young stars to revive the team.
This year, Kawhi Leonard and Harden were expected to lead the Clippers to championship glory, but their contrasting styles have not gelled, with the team winning five and losing 12 games when they have played together.
Harden has secured all the personal accolades he could ever dream of winning, but with his career nearly over, this must be the time to trade to a contender to give himself the best chance of winning a ring. Will he be gone in February?
