The much-talked-about trade of James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers may be in jeopardy. The 76ers may have to contend with another surprise team, who have a late entry for Harden. The team is none other than the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are the surprise new entrant in the talks and they have the talent to entice the Nets.

It’s no secret that Harden is unhappy with his situation in Brooklyn and has refused to commit to an extension with them. Reports suggest Harden doesn’t want to be in a situation where his star teammate may or may not play on a nightly basis and he feels like he’s back at the Houston Rockets again. The 76ers have emerged as the favorites for Harden’s next team, but now it seems like they have a new contender to deal with.

The Clippers are loaded with talent in almost every position. They can offer the Nets multiple players who can solve their issues and maybe even a few drafts picks. A trade package of Marcus Morris, Luke Kennard, and Serge Ibaka can match Harden’s salary requirements. The Nets have struggled with perimeter shooting and trade with the Clippers can solve that.

Al three players are all excellent shooters and Ibaka is a fierce rim protector, another area which the Nets are lacking. Morris is one of the best shooting forwards in the league and he shot over 47% from three last season.

Where will James Harden end up – Philadelphia 76ers or the Los Angeles Clippers?

The 76ers are reportedly offering a straight swap of Harden and Ben Simmons. Simmons, an all-star who was a defensive player of the year candidate. He is long, versatile, can finish at the rim, has excellent vision, but his main flaw may be his shooting. Or the lack of it. There is also another concern about his fit with the Nets and how he will be able to play with Durant and Co. This deal would be even harder to go through if the 76ers aren’t willing to include Tyrese Maxey or Seth Curry.

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Meanwhile, the Clippers trade can offer the Nets a solution to most of their problems. With Joe Harris being out, the Nets desperately need shooting to stretch the floor for Durant. And the Clippers trade does that for them. They can strengthen their interior defense, which has been missing all year long.

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But if Harden isn’t willing to commit to an extension, the Clippers may even not pursue him. With the Clippers trading for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, they already have one of the deepest squads in the league. And when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George come back, there are few teams that can match their firepower. It will be interesting to see how this trade sage will unfold as we approach the trade deadline.

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