(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Over the summer, superstar guard James Harden made it clear that he was done with the Philadelphia 76ers and wanted to be traded to his hometown Los Angeles Clippers, which is a deal that took a long time to come to fruition.
Ultimately, the blockbuster trade got done with the Clippers and 76ers coming to terms and another superteam being put together, with Harden joining forces with Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook in Los Angeles.
Even though the deal always seemed inevitable, there definitely seemed to be some hesitation on the Clippers’ part, with Harden not exactly leaving the last few teams he played for on good terms.
According to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, former Clippers head coach and current Milwaukee Bucks leader on the sideline Doc Rivers was consulted by Los Angeles before they decided to make the deal for Harden, noting Harden was a “perfect fit” for the team.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers told me the Clippers consulted him before trading for James Harden
“I was one of the guys who said it would be a great deal for them. I thought he fit them better than he would fit the Sixers team. I think he’s a perfect fit there.”https://t.co/pju2O5udIt
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 19, 2024
Even though there were rumors that Rivers and Harden didn’t see eye-to-eye during their short time together in Philadelphia, he gave an honest assessment and urged the Clippers to make the deal, as it would be a game-changing move.
Despite a slow start that led to a lot of criticism, it appears that acquiring Harden was a smart move for the Clippers, as a case could be made that they are the best team in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles may now have its best chance to contend for a title, with the four-headed monster leading the way, as the Clippers are expected to be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
The post Doc Rivers Says Clippers Consulted Him Before Blockbuster Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.