Get 29 million less and is forced to become a bargaining chip again! As the core of the Clippers, Harden may be supposed to leave

After the fierce battle for the first week of the NBA trading market, it gradually fell into a state of calm. The next goal of each team is mainly to inspect players through the Summer League and fill in the roster framework of the new season. But there are three major suspenses to be revealed. First, the Warriors have gained nothing in the past half month, because Kumingga signed first and then replaced completely stagnated. The Warriors cannot operate, but there are fewer and fewer high-quality options in the free agent market. There is no doubt that the offseason operation of the management led by Dunleavy was completely failed. Secondly, the next family of the former All-Stars such as Bill and Lillard is a question. Their first option must be some championship-level teams. Finally, there is the unclear relationship between James and the Lakers.

The Lakers clearly don't want to renew James' contract. After James chose to execute the player option worth $52.6 million next season, he also announced that the Lakers and James would come to an end. The Lakers management hoped that after James' contract expired next summer, he would pack Doncic with the next three available first-round picks. James just hoped to win in the present, and the Lakers ignored it. Then James is likely to be sent away at some stage in the future. Previously, US media confirmed that teams including the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Warriors, Clippers, Heat and other teams have certain interests in James. But the team reporter Walker revealed a key message: the Lakers refused to take over any contracts that exceeded 25-26 seasons, so in the trading market, only the Clippers and the Heat can satisfy the Lakers.

There is a lot of information! First of all, the Lakers are directly eliminated, such as the Warriors (take out Butler), the Cavaliers (packing Garland, Allen), and others. Of course, the Heat have an expiring contract. Next season, Rozier + Powell + Fontechio will add up to 54 million, which will fully meet the trading needs. But what about the Clippers? The Clippers are willing to quote James, who can they come up with? There is only one answer: Harden (39 million) + Collins (27 million), and can also help the Lakers clear out the contracts of Vincent or Cleber and others. In other words, since the Clippers have an intention to James, Harden's situation has become embarrassing, because he just signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract with the Clippers and was forced to become a bargaining chip!

Harden's contract next season is $39.2 million, and the option to take players in the second year is $42.3 million, but the part guaranteed by the team is only $13.3 million. Simply put, even if Harden wants to implement the player option next season, because of some guarantee terms, Harden can calmly free up his salary space in the next company of the 26-27 season or buy it out directly. Invisibly, Harden took the initiative to cut his salary by 29 million, but it became the target of the Clippers preparing to clean up. From the perspective of the Clippers, this is understandable. Regardless of whether James can finally come to the Clippers, the Clippers and the others plan to work hard for another season, which will explain all this from the 1+1 part guarantee contract for Harden. Secondly, Harden is indeed very strong and was selected into the All-Star + Best Team three team last season.

Harden is one of the few stars in the league who have their own guaranteed lower limit. No matter how bad the lineup is, he can lead to the top six in the Western Conference + the top four in the Eastern Conference, but Harden's upper limit is too limited. Last season's playoffs, G5 scored 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 3 of 9 shots in one game; G7 only scored 2 of 8 shots in life and death, and scored 7 points, 5 rebounds and 13 assists. The key battle is as bad as ever. The Clippers do need lower limit guarantee, but there is no upper limit, which is also a castle in the air. According to previous interpretations of Los Angeles media, if Harden + Collins is used to pursue James, the remaining operations are to pursue Paul and Bill with all their strength. The Clippers' ideal lineup framework may be Bill + Paul + Leonard + James + Zubac, Dunn + Derek Jones Jr. + Daluo + Bogdan + Batum as the main rotations in the new season.

Since leaving the Rockets, Harden has taken the initiative to sacrifice his salary and team status every time, but in the end he has suffered the most damage. The Nets did not get the recognition of Durant and Nash; the Sixers did not get the respect of Rivers Old, and Embiid had complaints; after coming to the Clippers, George's unfitness to pursue the maximum salary + Westbrook caused panic; Harden was indeed very good in the regular season last season, but Leonard was disappointed in the playoffs, and Harden's slump in the playoffs was reasonable, and Leonard averaged only 25 points per game in the playoffs, but it was unexpected. If you can't play dominant power, can you blame Harden for not having strong guaranteed ability? Or is Harden's salary of 39 million next season too high, and he is only worth $13.3 million?

As the core of the Clippers, Harden may be time to leave, whether it is active or passive. No matter where Harden goes, he is typically the one who gives the most, receives a lot of criticism, and does not give it thanklessly. He signed the contract for partially guaranteed in the second year, which also laid the foundation for the Clippers to abandon him at any time in the future. After all, Leonard has not been able to prove himself since he came to the Clippers. He still has dominance in the first three years, and his playoff performance has declined too quickly in recent years. The key is that the Clippers will not have the right to decide on their first round pick until 2030. How easy is it to rebuild? As for Harden, at the end of his career, he was like a dandelion seed and could only leave it to fate.