Clippers Caught Off Guard by Harden Trade Buzz, While Pacific Division Stays in Motion
The Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA lately, but that momentum hit an unexpected speed bump Monday night - not just from a loss to the Sixers, but from the sudden swirl of reports that James Harden could be on the move again.
Inside the locker room, the vibe was more stunned than frustrated. Teammates were clearly caught off guard by the idea that Harden, a Los Angeles native and recent addition to the Clippers' core, might already be eyeing another exit.
“Of course I’m surprised to hear the news,” Kawhi Leonard said. “But he’s got to do what is best for him.
I respect his decision, or whoever’s decision it was, and that’s it. At the end of the day, he’s still going to be my boy.
He’s still going to be my brother.”
It’s not like Harden hasn’t done this before - this would be his fourth trade request in five years, following exits from Houston, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. But this situation feels a little different.
The Clippers have been rolling, winning 17 of their last 21 games before Monday’s loss. Chemistry has been building.
Roles have been defined. Harden has looked comfortable.
But there’s a business side to this, too. Harden is reportedly looking for a new two-year deal this summer, while the Clippers have been eyeing 2027 as a key offseason for cap flexibility. If the front office isn’t ready to commit long-term, that could explain why trade talks - like the one reportedly involving Cleveland and Darius Garland - are surfacing now.
John Collins didn’t mince words when asked about the rumors.
“It was shocking,” he said. “Hell yeah [it would be disappointing to see him traded].
It would be a shock for me and for the team. And what we’ve been able to do.
Our season turned around. Definitely something different, something out of left field.”
Head coach Tyronn Lue echoed that sentiment, emphasizing Harden’s impact - not just on the court, but on the culture of the team.
“We have to go out and be professionals and do our jobs,” Lue said. “James means a lot to our team.
You guys have seen it for the last three years. He means a lot.”
Whether the Clippers ultimately pull the trigger on a deal or ride out the season with Harden remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: This isn’t a team that expected to be navigating trade drama in the middle of a hot streak.
Around the Pacific: Doncic, Kuminga, and Free Agency Watch
Elsewhere in the Pacific Division, the Lakers are still trying to find their stride - and Luka Doncic isn’t panicking. After a tough loss to the Knicks on Sunday, the star guard remained confident in the team’s direction.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Doncic said. “Obviously, got some work to do. But I think today we obviously missed a lot of good looks, but I think we have a great group.”
That game also marked the one-year anniversary of Doncic’s blockbuster trade from Dallas to Los Angeles - a move that shook up both franchises. Despite some speculation linking the Lakers to current Mavericks players, league sources remain highly skeptical that the two sides would revisit trade discussions, especially after the backlash Dallas received in the wake of last year’s deal.
Up in the Bay Area, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is working his way back from a left knee bone bruise. Head coach Steve Kerr made it clear on Monday that once Kuminga is healthy, he’ll be back in the rotation - especially with Golden State dealing with multiple injuries.
“We’ve always gotten along well, and there’s never been any issues on that front,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.” “It’s really been more about playing time and the door is wide open for him with these injuries. I hope we get him back and I hope he can continue to play like he did in those couple games when he got back in the rotation - he was really good.”
And in Phoenix, the Suns are keeping an eye on their backcourt depth with free agency looming. Center Mark Williams and guard Collin Gillespie are both approaching contract decisions, though Gillespie isn’t letting it distract him from the task at hand.
“I don’t really think about it that much,” Gillespie said. “I try not to think about it.
Obviously, I love where I’m at. I love this team and the organization.
We’ll see what happens at the end of the year, but I just try to go out there and play my best basketball and play winning basketball to do whatever helps the team win.”
Gillespie is expected to draw free agent interest in the $10-15 million per year range, and the Suns reportedly want to keep the former Villanova standout in the fold.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Pacific Division is full of moving parts - from potential blockbusters to injury returns and contract decisions. And if this week is any indication, the drama is just getting started.