James Harden’s Fourth Trade in Four Years: Is the Beard Becoming the NBA’s Ultimate Journeyman?
Once known as the centerpiece of a title contender in Houston, James Harden has now become the face of NBA transience. In October 2023, Harden was traded once again — this time from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers — marking his fourth team change in just four seasons.
From Houston to Brooklyn, then to Philadelphia, and now Los Angeles, the 10-time All-Star and former MVP has had a turbulent journey. The question hanging over his legacy now isn’t about skill — it’s about stability: Is James Harden still a franchise cornerstone, or has he become the NBA’s most talented journeyman?
🔁 A Timeline of Turmoil
Let’s break down Harden’s recent whirlwind:
2021: Traded from Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets in a mega-deal that was supposed to create a superteam with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
2022: Traded mid-season from Brooklyn to the Philadelphia 76ers, citing issues with the Nets’ direction and chemistry.
2023: Demanded a trade from the Sixers after a fallout with team president Daryl Morey, eventually landing with the Clippers.
That’s four different jerseys in less than 1,000 days — an astonishing stat for a player of Harden’s caliber.
> “This is not about basketball,” Harden said when the Clippers deal was finalized. “It’s about being somewhere I feel respected and wanted. I just want to win.”
📦 The 2023 Clippers Trade
The trade, which took weeks of negotiations and several tense public statements from Harden, unfolded as follows:
Clippers received:
James Harden
P.J. Tucker
Filip Petrušev
76ers received:
Marcus Morris Sr.
Robert Covington
Nicolas Batum
K.J. Martin
Draft picks (2026 first-rounder, 2028 pick swap)
The move united Harden with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook — a big-name core long on talent but short on postseason success. For L.A., it was a calculated risk; for Harden, it was a return to his hometown.
📉 Impact and Perception
While Harden still produces — averaging 16.6 points and 8.5 assists in the 2023–24 season — he is no longer the MVP-caliber force that once terrorized defenses in Houston. His scoring has dipped, his isolation-heavy style has evolved into more of a playmaking role, and his explosiveness has waned slightly with age.
But perhaps the bigger issue is perception.
Across four teams, Harden has now:
Demanded trades
Publicly criticized front offices
Skipped training camps or delayed arrivals
Reportedly strained relationships with teammates and coaches
Those patterns have damaged his reputation, turning him from a respected superstar into a symbol of player empowerment gone awry.
🔮 What’s Next for Harden?
The Clippers made it to the second round of the 2024 playoffs, where they were eliminated in six games by the Denver Nuggets. Harden had moments of brilliance — including a 30-point, 11-assist Game 2 — but consistency and late-game execution were lacking.
Now, as he approaches free agency again, the future is uncertain.
Will the Clippers re-sign him at age 35?
Will another contender gamble on his experience and passing?
Or will his past actions make teams wary?
One thing is certain: Harden’s talent is still there. But his ability to anchor a team long-term is in question like never before.
