One of the numerous, severe reasons why the LA Clippers will still be persistent in trading for another superstar is the team's numerous first-round playoff collapses. Most guys did not perform well in the regular season, and now Lawrence Frank is forced to analyze their playoff reputation before extending an offer.
One of the guys who crumbled, when most believed his game would exceed the hype in the postseason despite his known history, is James Harden. It is not that he has never been great in the playoffs, but in recent years, every run the former MVP is involved in ends in a loss, and the results are partly due to his approach.
Against the Denver Nuggets, Harden had several high-scoring battles, yet he folded like a lawn chair in Game 7, scoring just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting, which ultimately set the record straight for those who were hoping this year would be different.
Although it is a major issue, the Clippers' front office viewed his underwhelming performances in the first round through an optimistic lens, considering how the team would not have even been in a position to compete with the Nuggets if Harden had not pushed through the fatigue he faced.
In the end, Harden and executive Lawrence Frank developed a plan from the jump. This sequence was finally shared with the fans, as he declined his player option to land a raise for making the All-Star and All-NBA cuts.
This was earned for Harden, and not given, yet the Clippers are dodging the bigger picture of who he is in the postseason, and soon enough, LA may want him traded.
Retaining James Harden was key, but he could have been the most realistic option, as no other All-Star floor generals are available
A two-year, $81.5 million deal is fair for James Harden, but the LA Clippers likely agreed because he was the most feasible suitor. He already has a connection with Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, so allowing him to walk and replacing him would have been senseless.
However, when the tides turn, and Harden racks up low-scoring, high-turnover showcases in the playoffs, the front office will realize that they should not have been happy with two more seasons of the inevitable.
Harden is one of the best point guards in the history of the game in the regular season, but his floor in the playoffs drops beneath ground level.