With intel from countless teams around the league, the latest drop on ‘The Stein Line’ directly mentioned that the LA Clippers prefer to retain James Harden. The Clippers have been performing all too well, winning 11 out of their last 13, and do not want to part ways with the floor-raising point guard.
However, the Clippers are seemingly oblivious to the fact that a Harden trade now, better than ever, would be perfect.
He is having an all-NBA season, averaging 25.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, shooting 42.5% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. Additionally, Harden resurrected his value by being at the helm of a turnaround. He got his hands dirty, did not run from the grind, and instead of looking at where the Clippers stood in an 82-game season, he slowed his roll and went game by game.
Thus, Harden is seen as gold to Lawrence Frank, but why not swap him for a diamond? If he can be sold high on, what is the fear?
The Clippers are prioritizing success right now and are willing to play the rest by ear
Short-term success is only going to last for the time being. The LA Clippers have a superstar guard still performing at an elite level, yet seem stuck on grasping his recent production, not knowing who or what is on the other side.
On the contrary, the Clippers need to focus on the question: Will James Harden have a role in the long term?
If he were traded by the deadline, the answer is yes. A team like the Minnesota Timberwolves would pay up for a certified winner, an all-world ball-handler, and a generational talent. Even if they have to overpay, they might still agree to a deal, primarily because it is Harden they are talking about.
Unfortunately, the Clippers have tunnel vision on winning this season, and it will hold them back from a future that is a gold-generating mine.
That said, Harden has victory labeled on him now, but down the line, the front office, and mainly the fans, will ponder if he had been traded at the cross-section of the deadline and when his market was at its highest.
It will end up being one of the tales no one will ever know, as Harden was employed by a team that consistently weighed risk higher than reward.