James Harden is taking a brutally honest approach as he tries to work out a trade away from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Many were baffled that Harden would want a trade from the Clippers while the team is in the midst of a 17-5 stretch in their last 22 games. The veteran guard, however, is taking a long-term view of the situation.
ESPN’s Shams Charania said Tuesday that Harden’s priority is winning a championship, and he simply does not believe the Clippers can do that.
“I’m told James Harden wants to go compete for a championship,” Charania said. “This Clippers team has come on strong this last month or so, but they’re still a play-in team.”
The Clippers’ hot stretch has only been good enough to move them to 23-26, good for ninth in the Western Conference. If they continue winning at their current rate, that will change, but Harden either does not think that will happen or does not want to stick around to find out.
Harden has been most heavily linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 30-21 entering play Tuesday. He would form a strong core there with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He might not be wrong in thinking that group has a better opportunity to win a title than the Clippers do.
Regardless, if this really is the primary reason for Harden’s trade request, the Clippers and their fans will likely feel jilted. Given how well the team has been playing, that is understandable.
