The Los Angeles Clippers are having a rough start to their 2025-26 season. Their record of 5-12 isn’t great, and things have been inconsistent. But amidst the struggles, one player has been absolutely on fire: James Harden. The veteran guard is putting up numbers that are not only impressive for his age but are also making history.
For the Clippers, though, it is clear they won’t be competing this season, and need to be considering making trades, and the one player they can trade right now to earn the most value in return is James Harden. There is one team that makes sense to trade for Harden, while giving him the best chance to compete as well, and that team is the Minnesota Timberwolves.
*THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT*
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James Harden has immensely stepped up for the Clippers. At 36 years old, he’s playing like he found a time machine. He’s not just scoring; he’s orchestrating the offense, making plays, and generally keeping the team from completely falling apart.
In a recent game against the Charlotte Hornets, James Harden dropped a franchise-record 55 points. He did it efficiently, too, hitting 10-of-16 three-pointers, and shot 65.4% from the field.
When you look at the Clippers’ record, it’s not pretty. They’ve lost a lot more than they’ve won. But through all the ups and downs, the inconsistent lineups, and the defensive issues, Harden has been the one constant. He’s the guy everyone looks to when things get tough. He’s the steady hand, the player who seems to have an answer. He’s become the unexpected anchor for this team, keeping them afloat when they could easily sink.
The start to this 2025-26 season for the Clippers has been rough. Between injuries, and load management, the team just hasn’t found a consistent rhythm. And when they do get on the court, the defense has been leaky.
The Need for a Turnaround
Something’s gotta give. The team is in a tough spot, especially with their draft picks tied up. They can’t afford to keep playing like this. The front office is reportedly looking at making some moves, trying to shake things up. It feels like they’re stuck between trying to win now and not completely tanking their future. It’s a tricky situation, for sure.
The team’s current struggles highlight a significant strategic dilemma. With limited control over future draft assets, the Clippers face pressure to remain competitive in the present, even as roster inconsistencies and defensive issues plague their early season performance. This precarious balance makes any potential roster adjustments a high-stakes gamble.
It’s clear the Clippers need a serious change of pace. Whether that comes from within, through improved player performance and chemistry, or from external moves, remains to be seen. But this current trajectory isn’t sustainable if they have any aspirations beyond just playing out the season.
The move they can look to make right now is to trade James Harden, and the team that make sense to acquire him is Minnesota.
James Harden Trade Proposal
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Rudy Gobert, Joan Beringer, 2026 First Round Pick, 2030 First Round Pick
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: James Harden, Kris Dunn
Clippers Addressing Defensive and Rebounding Deficiencies
Beyond the big-picture strategy, there are some pretty clear on-court problems. The team’s defense isn’t great, ranking 25th in the league with a 119.2 defensive rating, and they’re pulling down just 41.4 boards per game, which is 26th in the NBA. These aren’t small issues. They need players who can stop the other team and grab rebounds, and right now, they’re not getting enough of that.
By trading for Rudy Gobert, those issues would start to end up subsiding as Gobert is among the elite defenders in the NBA, and would bring the rebounding ability they need. In addition to starting to fox their defense, they also secure to future first round picks to start evolving the team for the future.
James Harden is the Missing Piece For the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 NBA season. They sit with a 10-7 record, and have seen their entire team play cohesively to provide these winning results. Minnesota’s offense ranks third with a 120.3 rating, and their defense is second with a 105.5 rating.
Their lineup of Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle has dominated, but what they are missing is a point guard that can help match that production, and provide a boost there as well.
In a trade with the Clippers to receive James Harden, the Timberwolves would fix this issue. Harden’s scoring and passing ability would further propel the offense, and fully help in turning the Timberwolves into true NBA Finals contenders.
