NBA Rumors: The megatrade involving 10 players that would end with James Harden on the Minnesota Timberwolves

Los Angeles Clippers continue to be stuck at the bottom of the NBA standings in the Western Conference. With ten losses in their last twelve games, the team is starting to see some of their key players enter trade rumors, starting with James Harden.

The shooting guard is having his best scoring season in six years, averaging 26.8 points per game, along with 8.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds. However, Harden's individual performance doesn't translate into team results: the Clippers hold a 6-18 record, sitting in the fourteenth spot in a Western Conference of 15 teams.

Eric Pincus, from Bleacher Report, has proposed an ambitious three-team trade involving ten players that would send James Harden to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The trade would be structured as follows:

Minnesota Timberwolves would receive:

• James Harden (from Clippers)

• Chris Paul (from Clippers)

• Jalen Wilson (from Nets)

Los Angeles Clippers would receive:

• Naz Reid (from Timberwolves)

• Mike Conley (from Timberwolves)

• Rob Dillingham (from Timberwolves)

• Joe Ingles (from Timberwolves)

• Tyrese Martin (from Nets)

• Salary Exception of 6.9 million dollars (James Harden)

• Salary Exception of 8.8 million dollars (Brook Lopez)

• Salary Exception of 2.7 million dollars (Kobe Brown)

• Salary Exception of 2.3 million dollars (Chris Paul)

Brooklyn Nets would receive:

• Brook Lopez (from Clippers)

• Kobe Brown (from Clippers)

• 2027 Cleveland Cavaliers second-round draft pick (via Timberwolves)

• 6 million dollars (from Clippers)

• 1.96 million dollars (from Timberwolves)

Chris Paul continues to be relevant and could be traded

Despite common belief, Chris Paul is still part of the Clippers roster, even though the franchise has "severed ties" with him and sent him home. The point guard is eligible to be traded starting on December 15, so he could join Harden on his way to Minnesota.

His arrival, along with Harden's, would provide the Timberwolves with two of the best point guards of this era, freeing Donte DiVincenzo from the obligation of playing as a point guard, a role that doesn't suit him naturally.

Harden's presence would help relieve defensive pressure on Anthony Edwards, further enhancing a player who this season has already reached his career-best scoring average of 28.7 points per game. Having two scorers of that caliber on the court simultaneously would be a genuine nightmare for opposing defenses.

Additionally, Harden's defensive shortcomings would be balanced in Minnesota by one of the best defenses in the league, with names like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels as pillars of the system.

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From Los Angeles's perspective, the trade would allow them to acquire a promising starting center like Naz Reid, recently signed to a five-year, 125-million-dollar extension. According to Pincus, Ivica Zubac is "their most appealing player in the trade market," so receiving Reid would make it easier for them to part ways with him and obtain one or two additional assets.

As for the Brooklyn Nets, the move would bring back Brook Lopez, who spent the first nine years of his career with the franchise. Beyond the sentimental aspect, this is an expiring contract that Brooklyn could trade again or even release.

Furthermore, the Nets would have the chance to assess Kobe Brown, a former first-round draft pick, to evaluate his performance with more minutes and consistent playing time.