James Harden trade: Teams that could get in the mix mid-season

Here are several teams that could make offers for James Harden as we get closer to the trade deadline.

It’s been over two months since James Harden demanded a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers and it doesn’t seem like one is coming soon. After the Sixers decided to take him off the trade market, he tried to make things uncomfortable when he publicly called Daryl Morey a liar. An NBA investigation followed those comments as well as a report from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne detailing how the relationship between the Sixers and Harden fell apart.

It seems like Harden’s time in Philadelphia is all but over since the team has cap space ambitions that wouldn’t include him. If he’s no longer in their plans, then why haven’t they moved him yet?

As of now his trade market appears dead and all indications are that negotiations with his preferred team, the Los Angeles Clippers, haven’t gained traction. By waiting into the season, more teams could make offers by including players who were free agents this summer. They might not top the Clippers’ best offer for Harden, but perhaps a slightly bigger market could improve the Sixers’ return from them.

Here are several teams who could start making viable offers for Harden in December or January.

NBA rumors: Jaylen Brown, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves, Sixers, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Thunder, more

Reporting on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and updates on Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan report on Austin ReavesLauri MarkkanenJaylen Brown, and share updates on the Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Rumors: James Harden trade talks, Joel Embiid, PJ Tucker, Rudy Gay, Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, more

Reporting on James Harden trade talks and the potential affects for Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Mavericks, plus free agency notes on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and more on HoopsHype.

With free agency relatively at a standstill, all eyes around the league have shifted predominantly to trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, James Harden, and potentially Pascal Siakam.

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on the Harden trade talks and how they could affect Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, free agency updates on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and Nerlens Noel, along with notes on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Mavericks, and more on HoopsHype.

NBA rumors: Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro, Pascal Siakam, Knicks, Suns, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, Hornets

Reporting on trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro, Pascal Siakam, a three-team trade discussed by the Knicks, Suns, and Pacers, plus the latest free agency updates on the Nets, Mavericks, Hornets, and Summer League interviews from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Three questions predominantly arose when bumping into executives and agents during NBA Summer League on the concourse between the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas: 

What’s the word on Damian Lillard?

Where’s Tyler Herro going to end up?

What are you hearing about Pascal Siakam?

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on trade talks surrounding Lillard, Herro, Siakam, a three-team trade discussed by the Knicks, Suns, and Pacers, plus the latest free agency updates on the Nets, Mavericks, Hornets, and Summer League interviews on HoopsHype. 

How NBA teams spent their cap space in the 2023 offseason

More than half of the total cap space teams collectively had were used on trades and renegotiations instead of signing free agents.

The majority of the 2023 free agency dust has settled. There are still a couple of loose ends like the restricted free agencies of PJ Washington and Ayo Dosunmu, and of course, the potential of blockbuster Damian Lillard and James Harden trades. But for the most part, most teams have their roster situations figured out ahead of the 2023-24 season.

This offseason featured eight teams operating with significant cap space, the most we’ve had since 2019. However, unlike that summer, this year had a much weaker crop of free agents. The overall lack of talent led these teams to use most of their cap space in ways other than free agent signings.

Here is how much cap space these teams started out with and how it was utilized.

NBA Rumors: Paul George, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Mavs, Bucks, Celtics, more

Reporting on Knicks trade talks for Paul George involving RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the end of the NBA’s moratorium and Vegas Summer League beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Knicks trade talks for Paul George, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and much more.

Bucks (early) offseason review: Is this the beginning of the end for them?

The Bucks have Brook Lopez back for now, but they’re in a downward trend that puts the team’s future in question.

The Houston Rockets came into the offseason with plans to destabilize the Eastern Conference. After coming to terms on a three-year, $128.5 million agreement with Fred VanVleet, they were working hard to steal Brook Lopez from the Bucks. Ultimately, Lopez returned to Milwaukee for two years, $48 million, and according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Rockets had a similar contract offer.

Losing Lopez would have been a significant step back for the Bucks that they probably wouldn’t have been able to recover from this season. Although they’re fine for now, they are limited in ways to improve the roster this year. But for the first 24 hours of free agency, their mortality was on bright display as they absolutely could not afford to lose Lopez. This iteration of the Bucks could be closer to finished than we think, which could lead to questions surrounding the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

NBA rumors: Dame Lillard, Austin Reaves, Cam Johnson, Grant Williams, PJ Washington, Malik Beasley, more

Reporting on Damian Lillard trade talks, free agency updates for Austin Reaves, Cam Johnson, PJ Washington, Grant Williams, Malik Beasley, Terence Davis, Torrey Craig, and more on the Thunder, Raptors, Heat from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With NBA free agency in full swing, here’s a look at the latest intel on Damian Lillard trade talks, free agency updates for Jeff Green, Austin Reaves, Cam Johnson, PJ Washington, Grant Williams, Malik Beasley, Terence Davis, Torrey Craig, and more on the Thunder, Raptors, Heat.

NBA Rumors: James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Lakers, Rockets, more

Reporting on James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Georges Niang, Jevon Carter, and Trey Lyles, along with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With NBA free agency on the verge of beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel on James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Georges Niang, Jevon Carter, and Trey Lyles, along with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson leaps Brandon Miller at No. 2; Free Agency News

NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson moves ahead of Brandon Miller for the No. 2 pick. Dereck Lively drawing lottery pick consideration. Plus, free agency reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel around the league and projected where the top prospects currently stand by compiling 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the final edition of the aggregate mock draft.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.