Former Philadelphia 76ers player James Harden has gotten the trade he asked for in the summer.
According to ESPN, the player forced his way out of his third team when the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Harden from the 76ers. The trade was announced early Tuesday by basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed on a trade to send guard James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/wAyuJKMfAw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
The 76ers will receive a lofty package of players and draft picks in exchange for Harden. Those players are Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin. The team will also get a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap, and an additional first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Clippers will get P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev, along with Harden.
The Sixers are acquiring Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks, and a pick swap for James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/fSOkgO5xd3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
The 76ers will waive guard Danny Green to make room for the newly acquired players, sources said.
Harden will now be reunited with former Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook, who the Clippers picked up at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Harden, who is affectionately referred to as “The Beard,” is said to be “ecstatic” about the move that has been anticipated since he demanded a trade. There is a possibility that he will be with his new teammates in Los Angeles at Tuesday night’s Clippers home game against the Orlando Magic.
This is Harden’s third time forcing his team to trade him after being a disgruntled player. He previously demanded and got a trade from the Houston Rockets, where he played from 2012–2021. He was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets, where he remained until 2022 after being teamed up with future Hall of Famers Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Harden requested yet another trade and the Nets obliged, shipping him to the 76ers. During summer 2023, after signing an extension with the club, Harding became involved in an unknown dispute with 76ers’ president Daryl Morey in which “The Beard” called him a liar and stated he would never play on a team employing Morey.