Over the last several months, two big-time NBA stars asked their teams to trade them: Damian Lillard and James Harden.
Lillard finally grew impatient after more than a decade of languishing on a mediocre Portland Trail Blazers team and asked out. Throughout the summer, many thought he would get sent to the Miami Heat, his preferred destination. Instead, in late September, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, making them arguably the favorites to win the world championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers agreed to trade Harden this summer, but when they didn’t find a suitor, he went off on management, accusing executive Daryl Morey of being a “liar” and not showing up to the team to start the year.
Late Monday night, he reportedly obtained what he wanted: a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Sixers are acquiring Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks and a pick swap for James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/fSOkgO5xd3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
There were some Los Angeles Lakers fans who were hoping the Purple and Gold would land Harden, a former regular-season MVP. Lakers fans took to X, formally known as Twitter, to react to the news.
Lakers fans after the Clippers trade for James Harden pic.twitter.com/Rn406xxE7E
— mouseonfeet (@mouseonfeet) October 31, 2023
Watch James Harden come out and have career lows in everything. As a Laker fan, I'd love it.
— ReLoaded Lakers Fan 🔃(2-2) (@JoshWeeks47) October 31, 2023
They didn’t have to trade Mann and James harden is playing against the lakers. 😔😔😔 pic.twitter.com/FNo3XZsYUY
— LaKeRsOnToP (@kory_nathan) October 31, 2023
Why are Lakers fans scared of James harden who hasn't played in months https://t.co/tg1gXnlEaU
— 🏀Lakers downunder 🇦🇺 (@Aussie_Lakers) October 31, 2023
Just for kicks…. What would the Lakers have had to trade for James Harden? 😂 pic.twitter.com/vamAONZCnp
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) October 31, 2023
Lakers yall trippen yall should have traded for James Harden
— Justin Price (@PriceJustinJP) October 31, 2023
James Harden to the Clippers feels right.
Lakers in 3…Harden and the Clippers leave before game 4— Ash B – Empiraa.com (@RealFreeBrowny) October 31, 2023
“we got James harden” 🤓
BOIIIIII ain’t no one scared 😭😭😭😭😭— x17 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@LakersStannnnn) October 31, 2023
James harden is a clipper we are cooked next game
— Legoat wrld 👑🌎 (@lakerstrollwrld) October 31, 2023
No, the Lakers could not have traded for James Harden. They don’t have the movable contracts right now because they deals they signed over the summer are not eligible to be traded until December 15 at the earliest
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) October 31, 2023
