The Beard just crashed the NBA trade deadline party. That would be no less than James Harden, who's reportedly working with the Clippers' front office to find a trade before Thursday's deadline.
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After missing two straight games for "personal reasons," it looks like the real reason is simple. Namely, Harden wants out.
The news blindsided just about everyone. The Clippers have been red-hot lately, winning 17 of their last 21 after a brutal 6-21 start. Harden's been front and center in the turnaround, averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists through 41 games, and looking every bit like a 36-year-old All-Star.
Now he might be headed for the exit.
As relayed by multiple outlets (first by SI.com's Chris Mannix), the Clippers have been talking to the Cavaliers about a swap for All-Star point guard Darius Garland.
What the other options may be, though, is anyone's guess. Harden's got a $42.3 million player option for next season, and odds are he's looking for a long-term deal Steve Ballmer's not itching to hand out.
That complicates things. Any team trading for Harden would likely need to lock in an extension to get serious. But make no mistake, there will be interest. Harden's still producing, still drawing double teams, and still one of the smartest playmakers in the league when he's locked in.
The question now is who's willing to take the plunge. And whether Harden's next move is his last act. Or just another stop on the Beard's never-ending tour.
