Today’s Hottest Take: James Harden saved the Clippers’ Future

On February 4th the Los Angeles Clippers traded 11 time All-Star James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second round pick. This single move single handedly changes the landscape of the NBA. On one hand the Cavs become a boom or bust team with a small window to win. On the other hand the Clippers have managed to turn their future outlook completely around.

James Harden has been playing phenomenal basketball this season. He started the season carrying the Clippers and dropping franchise highs to win games. While it is sad that Harden won’t get to retire playing in his hometown, he managed to do them one last favor before he left. Darius Garland is a 26-year-old, two-time All-Star with a promising future ahead of him. The fact that Harden boosted his value on the trade market so much that even as a 36-year-old with only a couple years left in the league, he was still worth Garland plus a second-rounder is insane. With Darius Garland on the team the Clippers’ future is no longer murky

What You Need To Know: The Clippers Finally Have a Promising Future

With Harden and Kawhi both getting closer to retirement, the Clippers' future was looking worse by the day. Sure, they had some veteran stability, but once James Harden left, it looked like Kawhi might be the sole star left in Los Angeles. Now, with the arrival of Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, they have a solid young core. With promising players like Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller playing well, Mathurin and Garland will have a bright future ahead of them. The team also has high-value role players like John Collins and Derrick Jones Jr. that they could use as trade pieces if they want to target even more young talent like Immanuel Quickley.

Even if they don’t make another move, they are set up well. Once Kawhi retires, the Clippers will have plenty of cap space to play with. Combined with the fact that they play in one of the most desirable locations in the league and already have two young, All-Star caliber players in Garland and Mathurin, an established superstar will likely want to join them. Big names like Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, and Kevin Durant are possibilities, or they could target versatile scorers like Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Green, or Brandon Ingram. With one of the smartest front offices in basketball, they are sure to bring in someone who can solidify the Clippers' future.

The only concern with Darius Garland is how injury-prone he can be. He is one of the shiftest players in the league, and with a quick, agile style of play, a foot injury can be devastating. In the past two years, he has had two toe injuries that have sidelined him for a while. Despite this, the Clippers shouldn’t be worried; their current star, Kawhi, is one of the most injury-prone players in history, and because of this, the Clippers have one of the best medical staffs in the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqTnqbbq_o

Before You Go: The Clippers Still Have a Chance This Year

Despite pivoting toward the future, this season is far from over. They still have Kawhi playing at an MVP level, and with their role players stepping up, they have a real chance to go on a run. When Garland comes back from his injury, he will have a lot to learn. The two most important things are learning how to play alongside Kawhi and building chemistry with new teammate Mathurin.

The latter should be a natural fit, as Garland has experience playing with explosive, downhill scorers. Being able to collapse the defense and kick the ball out to Mathurin or find him on a cut to the rim will be a nightmare for defenses. He also needs to coordinate with Mathurin on the perimeter; because while Mathurin isn't a traditional rim protector, his athleticism and intensity allow him to pressure the ball effectively. Garland has experience fighting over screens and can now funnel ball-handlers toward the Clippers' versatile wings. If they can sync up their defensive rotations, the Clippers’ structure becomes far more stable.

The more difficult challenge is learning how to play with Kawhi. While Kawhi is often thought of as a "plug-and-play" player, maximizing his impact alongside a high-usage guard like Garland will take work. Kawhi's game is unique because it is so midrange-heavy. Garland and Mathurin will have to adapt to a rhythm where they are primary playmakers on one possession and floor-spacers the next. However, if this trio can gel before the playoffs, the Clippers could become an extremely dangerous team.