Though there is no one to blame, as injuries in the game of basketball are devastating and unpredictable, the LA Clippers promised James Harden help in the backcourt on a standard that Bradley Beal could not be held to. Fortunately, the former MVP has received something, which is better than nothing, from Jordan Miller, but at the deadline, the front office can play the redemption game at its finest by landing a guard Harden is actually compatible with.
What does this mean? What traits do the Clippers’ front office need to look for to match Harden’s to the tee? For starters, LA needs someone who has a track record of a strong handle, then transitioning off-ball seamlessly.
Beal was not known for either; all fans of the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns remember him for his scoring, which Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac are already experts at.
Thus, a target that would push the Clippers forward, rather than set them back, as they have won 14 of 17 games, is young and on a team-friendly deal for the Chicago Bulls.
Tre Jones is the answer to James Harden’s strain on the court
The physical stress James Harden does not have much choice in participating in is unmanageable. How are the LA Clippers comfortable with allowing a 36-year-old guard to be the lead floor general on a team that is trying to legitimately make a run in the postseason?
Furthermore, Harden’s stress-reliever is Tre Jones of the Chicago Bulls. He is producing the best role player numbers possible with the money he is making in three years, $24 million, and to the franchise's benefit, a team option in 2027-28.
His numbers? 12.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 38 games, shooting 55.0% from the floor. To have Jones is a straight-up luxury, and as a result, the Bulls will not part with him easily.
However, if the value of a promise is as valuable as it should be to the Clippers’ front office, they will question the Bulls and offer up whatever they can for Jones.
He is literally perfect, and surprisingly, Jones is the same age as Jordan Miller; he fits right into the Clippers’ young core.
That said, the Clippers need to hold themselves to a high standard at the trade deadline and acquire Jones. This would leave a good impression, as the front office would have kept true to the word Harden was given, and their 11-time all-star would find it easier to dominate the rest of the season.