James Harden has finally gotten his ticket out of Daryl Morey’s 76ers. Harden exercised his player option worth $35.6 million in the summer. Harden missed out on the entire training camp with the team and hasn’t played a single game in the new season. After the long tumultuous relationship with Philly, Harden has found his way out to the Clippers. The move comes after months of speculations around growing tension between Harden and the 76ers’ management.

The trade, which also includes P.J. Tucker heading to the Clippers, has been structured in such a way that it leaves the 76ers with an option to create either a $9M or $11M Trade Exception. This gives them some financial flexibility for future trades. The Clippers are saving money but have surpassed the second apron, which could mean a potential penalty. 

The Clippers are still saving despite surpassing the second apron 

The trade is a win-win for both teams. The 76ers get rid of a player who is not even willing to play with the organization, and they get back a bunch of experienced players. Clippers get a superstar in Harden. However, the trade has come at a cost, as the Clippers have now surpassed the second apron.

The second apron is a luxury tax threshold. They set it at $182.5 million for the 2023-24 season. The Clippers have surpassed the second apron by trading for Harden, but they will still have $40,595 left over after this seismic trade. 

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Clippers will have to make the math work 

As per the new CBA rules, the Clippers cannot combine the salaries of multiple players to make a larger salary match the salary of a player they are trading for. Starting next offseason, teams in the second apron will not be allowed to aggregate money to send out.

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This means that the Clippers will have to make some changes to their roster next offseason if they want to keep Harden. They could either trade away some of their other high-salaried players, or they could sign Harden to a new contract that is below his market value.

The Clippers are willing to pay the price to acquire Harden. Only time will tell if he can bring in a championship this time or the Clipper’s star-studded roster will fall flat. 

Watch This Story: Staring Down the Barrel of $1.5 Million Blow, James Harden’s “Unexcused Absence” Is “Only the Beginning” in 76ERS Drama, per Veteran Analyst