Clippers acquire James Harden from 76ers in blockbuster 3-team trade

James Harden is finally joining the Los Angeles Clippers.

After requesting a trade in July and making it clear that hispreference was to join the Clippers, Harden is finally getting hiswish.

Early Tuesday morning, the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to sendHarden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers for MarcusMorris, Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, K.J. Martin, a 2028unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pickswap and a protected 2026 first-round pick from the Oklahoma CityThunder, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowskireported. Also, the Clippers are sending a 2027 first-roundpick swap to Oklahoma City. The Sixers will waive Danny Green aspart of the deal.

This is a strong return for Daryl Morey and the 76ers,especially since the 34-year-old was disgruntled and no other teamwas showing significant interest in acquiring Harden.

Now, the Sixers project to have as much as $65 million in caproom next offseason. It's also possible that Philly will look toflip some of their assets to land a third star alongside JoelEmbiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The Clippers are pushing their chips to the middle of the tablein hopes of competing for a championship with Kawhi Leonard, PaulGeorge, Russell Westbrook and Harden. Harden and Westbrook werepreviously teammates on the Thunder and Houston Rockets.

It's worth noting that Leonard, George and Harden could all hitunrestricted free agency after this season; Leonard and George eachhave a $48,787,676 player option, while Harden is on an expiringcontract.

Harden is a former Most Valuable Player and 10-time All-Star.Last season, he averaged 21 points, 10.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8threes and 1.2 steals, while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5%from three-point range and 86.7% from the free-throw line.