James Harden Will Make or Break the ClippersLawrence Frank believes.
Addressing reporters Thursday, Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, explained why he sees James Harden as a difference-maker.
“James is a ceiling-raiser,” Frank said.
Paul George is in.
“[It’s] not every day you get a chance to get a guy of his ability,” George said.
Kawhi Leonard too.
“He’s one of the best players to ever step on the court in the NBA,” Leonard said.
The deal is done, the dust has settled, now it’s time to determine whether this slow cooker of Los Angeles talent is a success.
Harden landed in town on Wednesday, carrying 20 points, 10 assists and more luggage than the belly of a Boeing 747.
It was a trade that would mark the beginning of a new era of Clippers basketball.
.
.
or it will be the final blow that will end it.
And they need it.
Look up fragile in the dictionary.
Has the Clippers logo next to it.
Entering this season, Leonard and George have played 142 games in their five years together.
In particular, Los Angeles is 96-46.
But the two have only played in 38% (118 of 308) of the Clippers’ regular season games and 65% (24 of 37) of their playoff games.
Last season, the duo played 38 games together.
When Los Angeles’ season ended in Phoenix, neither was on the field.
During the regular season, Harden was covered by injury insurance.
In the playoffs, on paper, he was the best possible third option for a team.
And the Clippers think Harden would be a good fit.
They saw him do it (briefly) in Brooklyn, where Harden joined Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and (briefly) formed an extremely potent offense.
They saw it in Philadelphia, where Harden (again) changed his game to match Joel Embiid.
Harden described his time on the court in Philadelphia as playing “[on] a leash.
” L.A.
doesn’t consider his situation a limitation, but the team is banking on Harden’s ability to adapt.
“He has an elite skill set and everything he cares about is one thing,” Frank said.
“He wants to win a championship for L.A.
Clippers.
He wanted to be part of something bigger than himself.
He received all the individual awards.
He wanted to do something special.
Really?
Frank’s voice sounds confident, but organizationally it could be quite the opposite.
Despite all of his accomplishments and awards, Harden has been vocal about Harden lately.
He sulked in Houston, quit in Brooklyn, and when the Sixers didn’t trade him as quickly as he wanted, he made one of the strangest holding moves in recent memory.
Harden wants to go to Los Angeles, but let’s be honest about why.
He was born in Los Angeles and had a brief, made-for-TV (local) story surrounding four Southern California stars (Harden, George, Leonard and Russell Westbrook) getting a chance to raise a series forgotten movie.
It is very good.
But Harden opted out of his contract last summer to protect his Bird rights and wanted the Clippers because they were the team most likely to give him a new contract.
Steve Ballmer is the NBA’s richest owner, the Clippers are one of the NBA’s oldest contenders, and with the team set to move into the $2 billion Intuit Dome, there will be momentum to land an all-star roster.
Star.
On TNT, Shaquille O’Neal said, “I don’t know which Harden is going to show up,” and that’s still the question.
On Thursday, a quote from Harden (“I’m not a system player.
I’m a system.
“) went viral, but it was a clumsy attempt to explain how he fits this Clippers roster more than a statement of defiance.
Harden knew that coming to Los Angeles would require sacrifice, that
The Clippers have taken big swings in recent years.
Signed Leonard, traded for George, took a flier on Westbrook that has largely worked out.
Harden is another.
It will be a major success or a colossal failure.
It’s hard to see anything in between.James Harden Will Make or Break the ClippersLawrence Frank believes.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, explained why he sees James Harden as a difference-maker.
“James is a bare student,” Frank said.
Paul George is here.
“[It’s not every day you meet a guy with his ability,” George said.
4,444 Kawhi Leonard too.
“He is one of the best players to ever step on the court in the NBA,” Leonard said.
The deal is done, the dust has settled, now it’s time to determine if this stew of LA talent is a success.
Harden landed in town on Wednesday, with 20 points, 10 assists and more luggage than the belly of a Boeing 747.
It’s a trade that will usher in a new era of basketball Clippers.
.
.
otherwise will be the final blow to end it.
And they need it.
Look up fragile in the dictionary.
Has the Clippers logo on the side.
Entering this season, Leonard and George have played 142 games in their five years together.
Of which, Los Angeles is 96-46.
4,444 But the two only played in 38% (118 of 308) of the Clippers’ regular season games and 65% (24 of 37) of their playoff games.
Last season, the duo played 38 games together.
When Los Angeles’ season ended in Phoenix, neither was on the field.
During the regular season, Harden had injury coverage.
In the playoffs, on paper, he was the best possible third option for a team.
And the Clippers think Harden would be a good fit.
They saw him do it (briefly) in Brooklyn, where Harden joined Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and (briefly) formed an extremely potent offense.
They saw it in Philadelphia, where Harden (again) changed his game to match Joel Embiid.
Harden described his time on the court in Philadelphia as playing “[on] a leash.
” L.A.
doesn’t see his situation as a limitation, but the team is banking on Harden’s ability to adapt.
“He has an elite skill set and all he cares about is one thing,” Frank said.
“He wants to win a championship for L.A.
Clippers.
” He wanted to be part of something bigger than himself.
He received all the individual awards.
He wanted to do something special.
Really?
Frank’s voice sounds confident, but organizationally it could be quite the opposite.
Despite all of his accomplishments and awards, Harden recently spoke out about Harden.
He sulked in Houston, resigned in Brooklyn, and when the Sixers didn’t trade him as quickly as he wanted, he made one of the strangest holding moves in recent memory.
Harden wants to go to Los Angeles, but let’s be honest about why.
It originates in Los Angeles and features a (local) made-for-TV short story revolving around four Southern California stars (Harden, George, Leonard and Russell Westbrook) who are given the chance to revive a series forgotten in Serie.
That’s very good.
But Harden opted out of his contract last summer to protect his Bird rights and wanted the Clippers because they were the team most likely to give him a new contract.
Steve Ballmer is the NBA’s richest owner, the Clippers are one of the NBA’s oldest contenders, and with the team preparing for a $2 billion move to the Intuit Dome, there will be momentum to make the entire list.
Stars . On TNT, Shaquille O’Neal said, “I don’t know which Harden is going to show up,” and that’s still the question.
Fifth, quote from Harden (“I’m not a system player.
I am the system.
“) went viral, but it was more of a clumsy attempt to explain why he was a good fit for the Clippers’ roster than a defiant statement.
Harden knew going to Los Angeles would requires sacrifice, that
