James Harden’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers will soon conclude.
The 11-time NBA All-Star isn’t waiting until the offseason to decline his player option and find a change of scenery. Instead, the Clippers will complete a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers before Thursday’s trade deadline.
A few hours after the trade was reportedly agreed upon, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared some important quotes from Harden, who broke his silence on the deal after being away from the Clippers over the past two games.
What Did James Harden Have to Say?
“In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other. Okay, maybe we just don’t see a future with each other,” Harden told Shelburne. “Maybe we just outgrew each other, whatever the case may be. I feel like other situations weren’t like that. And that’s why I can respect Steve and L and TLu because they didn’t put me in a weird position as much as everybody tried to make it like that.”
Harden is no stranger to developing fractured relationships with franchises he played for in the past. While he typically left his former teams on bad terms, it seems that the Clippers aren’t dealing with a similar situation on that front.
“I didn’t want to feel like I was holding the Clippers up in their future,” he told Shelburne. “I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital. In Cleveland, I see an opportunity to win in the East— they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go—I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
The Clippers started the season off in shocking fashion. They anticipated becoming one of the Western Conference’s top contenders to challenge the champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead, the Clippers were quickly well outside of the postseason picture.
In recent months, Harden and Kawhi Leonard were leading a major turnaround. Everything has been clicking, and the Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. While they could still have a shot at making the playoffs, Harden seemingly likes the Cavs’ chances of making it out of the East.
More News: Clippers’ James Harden Drops Cryptic Video Amid Trade Buzz
The championship-hungry guard will join a fifth-seeded Cavs team with a 30-21 record. Meanwhile, the Clippers gain a 26-year-old guard, who brings experience to the table for now, along with having a chance of being a future staple for the Clippers’ franchise.
While the Harden experience didn’t result in a title win for LA, he leaves the situation with positive memories. That’s a big difference compared to Harden’s early exits with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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