In the latest episode of the Ticket and The Truth Podcast, Paul Pierce gave his two cents on James Harden’s looming contract extension talks with the Clippers.

He said, “If they (Clippers) don’t win a championship with Harden, then I think he don’t get that max deal. But, he’ll get a good contract because I know Harden probably wanna stay with this group, and see how they build on it. But, his value is not the same as theirs (Kawhi and PG) as far as extension.”

The Clippers would look to re-sign all of their superstars and Kawhi Leonard has set the ball rolling. Kawhi signed a three-year contract extension worth a $152.4 million deal that goes through the 2026-27 season. According to reports, the Clippers are also locked in contract negotiations with Paul George. Currently, Paul George is only signed through the reminder of this season, with a player option for the 2024-25 season.

Reports have also suggested that Kawhi signed a contract extension on the pretext that both PG and Harden would re-sign with the Clippers. While it is almost certain that PG will re-sign with the Clippers, Harden’s future still remains uncertain. Harden will want a max contract, however, his ability to get that depends on his postseason performances with the Clippers.

Can the Clippers finally win an NBA title?

The Los Angeles Clippers have been a perennial title contender since Steve Ballmer took over. However, they seem to always stumble at the final hurdle. Despite having the likes of Kawhi, Paul George, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers have never made it past the Western Conference finals. Steve Ballmer has made significant investments into the franchise, and he expects that his team could finally win a title.

This season could be the season that the Clippers finally break the glass ceiling and win the title. With the season almost reaching its halfway mark, the Clippers have showcased their strength as one of the top teams in the league. The Clippers have looked like a cohesive unit, with all three stars playing a key role in Ty Lue’s rotation.

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However, from now on, their main priority remains keeping their three stars fit and healthy. PG13, Kawhi and Harden have all suffered from nagging injuries in the past. Previous instances of recurring injuries to PG and Kawhi have disrupted the Clippers’ pursuit of a championship, and they are determined to avoid a repetition of such setbacks. The Clippers are poised to make a deep playoff run. The only thing that could derail their title hopes this season is injury to any of their three stars. Can the Clippers win the 2024 NBA title? Let us know in the comments below!

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