Timberwolves Predicted To Land $105 Million Guard in Wild 4-Team Trade Involving James Harden
The Los Angeles Clippers (5-16) are downright terrible this season.
With the exception of guard James Harden, every player on the Clippers’ roster is either failing to meet expectations or struggling to remain healthy. It’s clear championship contention is not a possibility with this current core, so L.A.’s front office has a major choice to make in the coming months.
Either begin a rebuild by unloading veterans for younger talent, or shake up the group surrounding Harden and Kawhi Leonard. If the organization takes the former route, a wild four-team trade could be in store.
Clippers Predicted To Trade James Harden to Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves (12-8) feel a move or two away from being viewed as one of the top contenders in the loaded Western Conference.
Is the answer acquiring Harden at age 36? Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale believes it could be, as he predicted the following blockbuster trade could take place between the Clippers, Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Brooklyn Nets:
Clippers Receive: Jalen Green, Bones Hyland
Timberwolves Receive: James Harden, Haywood Highsmith
Nets Receive: Mike Conley, Leonard Miller, 2026 second-round pick (second-most favorable of Dallas, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, via Phoenix), Memphis’ 2026 second-round pick (protected Nos. 43 to 60, via L.A. Clippers), Cleveland’s 2027 second-round pick (via Minnesota)
Suns Receive: Julius Randle
The Nets’ motivation for accepting this deal is simple: acquire even more draft capital.
Los Angeles does exactly what was discussed previously, which is begin a much-needed rebuild. Green is a 23-year-old, former No. 2 pick, so it’s fair to assume his best NBA seasons could be ahead of him. He has only appeared in two games for the Suns this year but averaged 21 points on 42.3% shooting for the Houston Rockets in the 2024-2025 campaign.
Not to mention, he has two guaranteed seasons remaining on his three-year, $105 million contract, so retaining him would not be an immediate concern.
Harden heads to Minnesota, where he would team up with Edwards and Rudy Gobert. To put it simply, it’s tough to imagine two ball-dominant guards in Harden and Edwards coexisting successfully.
While the Nets, Suns, and Clippers accomplish something positive with this trade, it’s foolish for the Timberwolves to pair Harden with Edwards.
