James Harden Next Team Odds: Clippers Listed as Odds-On Favorite

One of the top names in the NBA, James Harden, has opted into his $35.6 million player option and has requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. After spending the last year and a half in Philadelphia, Harden is looking to move on, with the Los Angeles Clippers emerging as the clear favorite to land him. There are other contenders for his services, though, and bettors can now check out James Harden next team odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.

After a legendary stint in Houston that lasted eight seasons, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets but only played 80 games over two seasons there before being shipped to Philadelphia. He’s now looking for his third trade since the 2020-2021 season.

Of course, anything can happen with Harden’s trade request, but according to Harden’s next team odds from DraftKings, it appears he will be teaming up with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles.

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Odds to Be James Harden’s Next Team

Here, we have listed the odds from DraftKings Sportsbook for Harden’s next team.

Immediately following Harden’s trade request, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Clippers and New York Knicks were among the top teams expected to pursue Harden this offseason. According to DraftKings, the Knicks (+600) have the third-shortest odds to be Harden’s new team, while the 76ers (+270) have the second-shortest odds to keep him in Philly.

The odds start to get a little longer after that, with the Miami Heat (+700) and Los Angeles Lakers (+2000) rounding out the top five in odds to land Harden. Based on the odds above, Harden will likely end up in Los Angeles or New York, or stay in Philadelphia.

While he could theoretically be traded anywhere since he does not have a no-trade clause, you can make a very educated guess on where he will not be playing next season and stay away from that team’s odds. For example, the Phoenix Suns (+2500) have the eighth-best odds to land Harden, but trading for Harden would likely mean giving up DeAndre Ayton, which would make Phoenix one of the smallest teams in basketball, and they just acquired a similar playstyle in Bradley Beal this offseason.

Plus, from the Sixers’ perspective, pairing Ayton and Joel Embiid does not make much sense. 

The 76ers and Harden are still trying to work on a trade that would benefit both sides, which means he could still be traded anywhere. Here, we will look at the top three teams to land Harden and how he would fit in each lineup.

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Los Angeles Clippers (-180)

With a trade to the Clippers, Harden would immediately become the third leg in a “Big Three,” joining Leonard and George. He would also reunite with his former Thunder and Rockets teammate, Russell Westbrook, who resigned on a short deal.

A Harden trade would likely mean including crucial assets such as Terrance Mann, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, and whatever draft compensation they scrape together. Ultimately, it may be worth it to pair up three of the best offensive playmakers in the league with a steady head coach in Ty Lue. But Leonard, George, and Harden all have major injury concerns, and if this trade does not work out, it may signal the end of what was once a promising era in Clippers’ history.

Los Angeles does not have much time to make the Leonard-George pair work, as both players are nearing the end of their contracts. Plus, Harden is the most unpredictable superstar in the league regarding how and where he wants to play on any given night.

However, he is still an elite playmaker as he led the league in assists last season, and he still shoots the ball very well from deep, which is an area that Clippers need to improve.

Philadelphia 76ers (+270)

When a player requests a trade from an organization, it is likely he will never play for that team again. There is no real answer to why Harden wants out, but speculation around the league is that he wishes to play in his hometown of Los Angeles.

However, Harden has wanted a lot of things over the past three years, and changing his mind is certainly not out of the question. Philadelphia is a desirable destination for players, and he thrived as a playmaker alongside Embiid.

The 76ers were one win away from knocking off the Celtics and making it to the East Finals, and Harden was a big reason for that. But trading Harden may be the best thing for this team, as they need much more help besides what Harden brings to the table.

A combination of shooting, athleticism, length, and defense can really bring this team together, and a Harden trade can take care of all those needs, especially with what the Clippers have to offer.

New York Knicks (+600)

As the days have passed since Harden’s trade request was announced, the Knicks have seemed less and less likely to make a run at the former MVP. A report from SNY’s Ian Begley states that the Knicks are not expected to pursue Harden on the market, and the free-agency signing of Donte DiVincenzo signals precisely that.

The Knicks were able to blow past the Cavaliers in the playoffs last year because of their depth and how they dominated in the paint. With a potential Harden trade, they would have to say goodbye to a lot of what makes this team dangerous moving forward.

The Obi Toppin trade also signals that they are not interested in any of the stars on the market, including Harden. Of course, the NBA offseason is so wild that the Knicks may wake up tomorrow and decide to pull the trigger, but for now, it looks like he and the Knicks will pass on each other.

When to Expect a James Harden Trade

Harden has opted into the final year of his deal, meaning the 76ers are in no rush to trade him. They can hold off for whatever package they want, and they have shown that type of patience in the past when they traded Ben Simmons to Brooklyn as part Harden deal. 

Even though they are similar players, the Beal trade did not return a haul for Washington, but Harden cannot force the 76ers to trade him to a particular spot like Beal did. If the trade packages are not acceptable to Sixers president Daryl Morey’s standards, he will not give him away just because Harden wants to go to Los Angeles. 

However, the rumblings about Embiid’s dissatisfaction with the team have already started, which means the 76ers could be losing time with this current championship window. You can expect this trade to finish soon so Philadelphia can move on with its offseason and prepare for a hopeful championship run. 

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