NBA Rumors: James Harden negotiating with the Clippers to leave before the Trade Deadline!

The Los Angeles Clippers and James Harden are currently analyzing whether it is possible to reach an agreement before the NBA trade deadline, set for this Thursday. According to Shams Charania (ESPN), both parties continue to negotiate while other franchises watch the situation closely.

Among the teams that have shown a serious interest in the guard is the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to the same sources. Harden, 36, has the power to veto any trade as his contract is only guaranteed for the current season. The second year of the two-season, $81.5 million deal signed last summer is a player option and not fully guaranteed.

The shooting guard did not play in the Sunday game against Phoenix or in Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, both due to what the club described as "personal reasons." Before the game against the Sixers, coach Tyronn Lue explained that Harden was at his home in Phoenix.

On the sports side, Harden has been a key player in the Clippers' turnaround after a very negative start to the season, with a record of 6-21. Since then, the team has managed to get back into the play-in fight. The player himself recently told ESPN that he felt "blessed" to be able to play in his hometown of Los Angeles and expressed confidence that the team could turn things around after the rough start.

The Clippers are Harden's fifth franchise in his career, having previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. The Los Angeles team acquired him in 2023 from Philadelphia with the idea of forming a star trio alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Harden's Situation

George left the franchise last summer as a free agent, signing with the 76ers, and was recently suspended for 25 games for a violation of the NBA's antidrug policy.

Individually, Harden continues to climb the ranks in the league's history. In recent weeks, he surpassed Shaquille O'Neal and moved up to ninth place in the NBA's all-time scoring list.

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