Rival executives around the NBA increasingly expect the Los Angeles Clippers to gauge trade interest in James Harden if the club’s early-season struggles persist, according to The Stein Line’s Marc Stein.
A front-office source from another team told Stein that Los Angeles may place the 36-year-old guard on the market ahead of the February trade deadline, especially if the Clippers remain near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Los Angeles has opened the season on a disappointing note, prompting speculation of a roster shake-up rather than a slow push toward the play-in tournament.
Harden continues to post productive numbers, but he is also one of the few players on the roster considered both movable and capable of bringing back meaningful assets. Any potential deal, however, would face several contractual hurdles.
The former MVP re-signed with the Clippers using Bird Rights and holds a partially guaranteed player option for next season. That clause grants Harden veto power over any trade, ensuring he can influence his next destination should Los Angeles pursue a move.
For now, league sources describe the situation as one to watch rather than an imminent transaction, but anticipation is building as the calendar moves closer to February.
Source: Hoops Wire
