With a mindset that would not shock anyone, James Harden wants championships. He is 36 years old, amid the most valuable years of his career, as these are the days he will reminisce most, and if the LA Clippers do not turn a play-in spot into a groundbreaking playoff run, his player option will likely be declined. Fortunately, though, his replacement will be on the market in need of a value-rebuilding system that LA can undeniably provide.
Assuming Harden is out, the Clippers will place every trade and free agent card in the appropriate order to hunt down Trae Young in a proposal with the Washington Wizards, who just shipped CJ McCollum and Cory Kispert in the Atlanta Hawks’ direction.
It will turn out to be like clockwork when it comes to acquiring Young at the right time. His market will be low, yet his skill set will be high, which explains why the Clippers will overlook his flaws and insert him into the role Harden once held.
Trae Young would find the Clippers to be the best place to spend his prime
As he has grown into a superstar, Trae Young has had some exceptional seasons. He carried the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21, was just shy of sophomore averages of 30 points and ten assists, and then, later in his career, last season, took home the NBA’s assists title with 11.6 per game.
Young might have been shipped to D.C. for a surprisingly low return, but it is evident he is one of the best point guards in the world, and always seems to elevate his game when the lights are bright; he loves pressure on the biggest stage.
However, despite all of his accomplishments at the age of 27, Young’s prime has not arrived. He has shown countless signs of being able to lead the league in points and assists simultaneously, which is what the LA Clippers must focus on following the 2025-26 season’s end.
Additionally, Lawrence Frank has the financial capacity to extend Young. Frank may be relatively picky in choosing who to pay, but the four-time all-star is the epitome of where the Clippers would love for their money to go.
Thus, right now, given that the Washington Wizards are still in a rebuild, Young would find the Clippers to be the better team to play for, as they can meet his top-dollar demands and maximize his contributions in a win-now situation.