After finalizing the trade for James Harden, the LA Clippers have completely re-shaped their roster. For better or for worse, this team will look much different than fans are used to seeing for the rest of the year.
Much has been made of Harden’s fit on the Clippers’ roster. As a player who made his living in the NBA as a ball-dominant scorer, many are wondering if he will be able to spread the ball around enough for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to still be themselves.
Harden has done his best to squash those doubts in his conversations with the media, but he will ultimately have to prove he is correct on the court. The best-case scenario is that his skills as a distributor maximize the talents of his teammates and help the Clippers take another leap.
Until we see proof of that reality on the hardwood, there will still be reasonable doubt as to whether James Harden can actually elevate a team to championship level. There is still an argument to be made that there were several trade targets out there that would have actually made more sense for the Clippers than Harden.
3 trade targets that would have been better fits than Harden:
1. Pascal Siakam
In his eighth year as a pro, Pascal Siakam brings a lot of skills to the floor that would have been useful to the Clippers. Playing primarily at the four, he would have been able to occupy the frontcourt along with Ivica Zubac while allowing Kawhi and PG to slide down a spot in the starting lineup.
In the last two full NBA seasons, Siakam led the league in minutes played per game. This would have been a big help for Head Coach Ty Lue, who would have been able to play him for extended minutes while some of the other star power on the team gets a rest on the bench.
Siakam would have brought a lot more versatility to the Clippers’ frontcourt, and the team would have been able to use him in a multitude of different lineups. With the Raptors reportedly listening to trade offers all summer, it is a shame LA did not make an attempt at acquiring Pascal Siakam.
2. Buddy Hield
While James Harden is far from a liability when it comes to three-point shooting, he is not considered as an especially dangerous three-point threat. Since arriving in Philadelphia, he has shot right around league average from beyond the arc at 35.5%.
He will be a decent three-point threat for the Clippers but nothing beyond that. What LA could have used is someone to supplant the now-departed Luke Kennard with a knockdown three-point shot. Buddy Hield fits that bill perfectly.
Since entering the league in 2016, Hield has been one of the most deadly three-point shooters in the NBA. He is a career 40.2% shooter from outside, and has never shot lower than 36% in a season. Hield is the perfect floor spacer that gives opponents a perimeter player they always have to respect.
Suffice to say, Ty Lue would have loved to have Hield’s incredible shooting prowess in his locker room. Hield would have given Kawhi and Paul George a reliable threat to go to when they needed a bucket from deep, as well as someone that would have allowed them even greater room to operate on their own.
As good as Terance Mann and Bones Hyland can be, neither possess the offensive gravity that a shooter like Buddy Hield does.
3. DeMar DeRozan
In a lot of ways, DeMar DeRozan could be seen as similar to James Harden at this point in both their careers. While both used to be among the top scorers in the game, they have each taken something of a step back with increased age and learned the value of good playmaking.
One could make an argument that each brings a similar amount of impact to whatever team they play on in 2023. But one particular factor gives DeRozan a slight edge: his off-court value.
Whereas James Harden has now forced his way out of three teams in the last three years, DeRozan has embraced whatever opportunities have come his way, whether favorable or not. In 2018, he was traded from Toronto to San Antonio after being told he was untouchable in trade talks.
But despite being in a situation he did not prefer, DeRozan still went to work and improved his game. He put up more assists per game during his three years with the Spurs than in any other three-season stretch of his career.
While DeMar DeRozan may not be much of a three-point shooting threat, his no-nonsense approach runs counter to James Harden’s history over these last several years. Time will tell, but the Clippers may end up wishing they had pursued DeRozan instead.