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Klay Thompson to Replace James Harden? Could He Ditch Stephen Curry & Warriors for Joel Embiid?

Published 11/01/2023, 2:15 AM EDT

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While the NBA world thought Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trades were the wildest one, James Harden’s trade came out of nowhere. The 10x NBA All-Star became public enemy #1 in the course of working out of a trade, especially after calling Daryl Morey a liar. Now that he has got what he wished for, a place in the Los Angeles Clippers‘ roster, it left a massive void in the Philadelphia 76ers roster. Not to demean Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris’ efforts alongside Joel Embiid this season, but what are the possible options?

4x NBA Champion Klay Thompson has been on top of the list for quite a while. He has had a rough patch ever since his ACL tear injury in 2019. Nevertheless, the Splash Brother hasn’t slid away from claiming buckets from the deep. In spite of all the given circumstances, will China Klay ditch his superstar teammate, Stephen Curry, to find a spot alongside Embiid? Let’s find out the possibilities from the perspective of Essentially Sports.

Will Klay Thompson replace James Harden?

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James Harden forced a trade with the Clippers with a year remaining in the contract signed with the Sixers. In return for the blockbuster trade, the Philly side received a package of draft picks and players. After this season, when Harden’s contract matures, the team will have a huge cap space, opening doors for future trades.

Considering the size of the cap space, the players in contention could be big names like Klay Thompson, Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMar DeRozan. Moreover, it can be Kawhi Leonard and Paul George also, considering the wild trades in the league.

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However, Klay Thompson seemed to be a great possibility. The major reason behind this perspective is the unclear reports on Thompson’s contract extension. While Steph and Draymond Green have several seasons left in their bags, China Klay is in his last season and yet to extend his contract.

via Imago

On the other hand, the Sixers are in dire need to playoffs experienced contender in their roster. While Thompson almost levels up with Harden with his skills from the deep, the front office could hunt down Thompson from his splash brother.

Read More – Nets Legend, Father of James Harden-Trade Casualty, Gets Emotional for 22YO Forward

Despite the possibility of the trade, let’s find out what Thompson has in his mind about playing outside the franchise.

Klay Thompson opens up on the contract extension debate

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Even though the contract extension is unclear, Klay Thompson recently opened up a conversation, as reported by NBC Sports. He said, Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else… To play for one franchise, man? That’s so rare. In any sport…  Even what Udonis Haslem did. He’s revered in Miami. Locally. That’s what I cherish.”

USA Today via Reuters

However, this interview came in days before the James Harden trade so there are possibilities that Thompson could rethink his choice.

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What is your take on such a perspective? Will Klay end up in the Sixers’ roster? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by:

Shahul Hameed

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Shahul Hameed is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, where he brings his passion for sports and entertainment journalism to life. With a Master's Degree in journalism from a reputed institute and years of experience in the industry, Shahul always strives to provide insightful and astute coverage of the NBA to the fans. Shahul's love for sports writing dates back to his college days.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor