ReGrade the Trade: LA Clippers make blockbuster move for superstar guard

LA Clippers did what they had to do

Yes.

Hindsight is 20/20. The Clippers have been struggling lately. They don't look like title contenders. As a result, it's too easy to say that the Clippers should regret this deal.

Are they going to be the 2023-24 NBA champions? It's unlikely. Here's the rub: it's always unlikely. Believe it or not, winning an NBA championship is hard.

To do it, you need a lot of talent. The Clippers added the most talented player in this deal by a long shot. So, this should be an A+ grade, right?

Not so fast. The Clippers acquired a player who is infamous for being a disruptor. Harden was recently conspicuously absent from a media scrum. He's making noise on the Clippers.

His postseason resume is also spotty - at best. If he falters in this year's playoffs, the Clippers may suddenly wish they had those picks. Spoiler alert: we're not giving this deal an A+.

We're still giving it a good grade. The LA Clippers have a title window. They acquired a star. That's always a sensible course of action: whether you end up "winning" the trade or not.

Grade: B+