James Harden’s Next Team Odds Shift To Favor Clippers
As the James Harden trade saga continues, a clear contender has emerged to acquire the superstar guard. After the Rockets removed themselves from the picture, the Los Angeles Clippers have stepped up as the betting favorite to land Harden in a trade. According to BetUS, you can bet on Harden playing for the Clippers next season at -200 odds.
With an implied probability of 66.7%, Harden has much better than coin-flip odds of playing for the Clippers next season. The betting odds indicate that he is more likely to play for the Clippers with the 76ers now at +300.
Per an NBA insider, 76ers’ president Daryl Morey might be having second thoughts about a trade, but Harden doesn’t seem interested in staying.
This is a considerable shift from where Harden’s odds were just two weeks ago. The Rockets were overwhelming favorites to welcome Harden back to Houston for a reunion.
At -400 odds, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Harden was packing up his bags for Houston. Nevertheless, it never appeared like the Rockets were serious about wanting to sign Harden. Instead, the Rockets focused their attention on signing Fred VanVleet.
The Rockets opened up their wallets to outbid the Toronto Raptors for the prized free agent. The organization had the most money to spend in the league this free agency. In what many people believe to be an overpay, the Rockets signed VanVleet to a three-year $128.5 million contract.
"Hopefully his mindset can be changed." -Joel Embiid on James Harden wanting out of Philly 👀
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 10, 2023
Steve Ballmer Determined To Win NBA Championship
As soon as Steve Ballmer bought the Clippers, it was clear that he was going to do anything to win an NBA title. He pushed many of his chips into the pot to acquire Kawahi Leonard and Paul George in 2019.
Unless there is a trade to include more draft picks, the Clippers will not have a first-round pick in 2024 and 2026.
The Clippers will inevitably need to do some form of rebuild or retooling following George and Leonard’s departure. With all of this in mind, what is preventing Ballmer from pushing the rest of his chips into the pot while George and Leonard are still on the roster?
It would be on-brand for Ballmer and the Clippers to add another superstar to the mix. Along with Harden’s willingness to go to the Clippers, the front office has not been shy about executing these types of blockbuster trades. Harden going to the Clippers feels right given the modus operandi of this franchise.
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Deja Vu For Harden?
It wouldn’t be the first time that Harden was one part of a Big 3. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden teamed up to form what people believed was going to be an unstoppable trio. That clearly did not go according to plan.
Anything less than a championship equated to a failure in Brooklyn. If Harden joins Leonard and George, there is a possibility we have a repeat of the Nets. Leonard and George will both have to stay healthy for it to work, which could be asking a lot.
Harden is "determined" to be on the Clippers next season, per @sam_amickpic.twitter.com/PBK3u2iykk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 13, 2023
That being said, Harden is still one of the best pure scorers in the NBA. The 33-year-old veteran is coming off a productive campaign with the 76ers. In 2022-23, he scored 21 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game in 58 games.
If the Clippers trade for Harden, they just shouldn’t expect his 2018-19 form. Harden had his best season in the NBA. In a healthy campaign that saw Harden play 78 games, he scored 34.4 points per game on 44.2% shooting.
However, if Harden is scoring that much, it probably means Leonard and George aren’t playing. Harden would have to allow Leonard and George to get their touches. It remains to be seen whether the chemistry would be present for the Clippers.
If you don’t believe that Harden is staying with the 76ers or going to the Clippers, then the New York Knicks might catch your attention at +750.
Clippers’ 2023-24 NBA Title Odds Unaffected By Harden Rumors
The news of Harden potentially going to the Clippers hasn’t translated to the 2023-24 NBA title betting markets. As of July 14, the Clippers have +1800 odds to win the NBA Finals next season. There are seven teams with better odds, including the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers were +1700 shortly after the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat in five games of the 2023 NBA Finals. In other words, the Clippers haven’t witnessed much movement in their odds despite there being a good chance of Harden heading to Los Angeles.
If inclined to bet on the Clippers to win the 2023-24 NBA title, now is the time. The odds will shrink if the Clips land Harden in a trade.
