Did Russell Westbrook play role in James Harden’s Clippers interest?

Should James Harden get his way and join the Los Angeles Clippers, he’d be linking up with Russell Westbrook for the third time in his career. Does that matter?

It’s no longer news that James Harden wants to be traded from the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s also not new that his preferred desitation, or at least one of them, would be the Los Angeles Clippers.

Earlier this week, Joey Linn of FanNation reported that a factor in Harden’s laser-sharp focus on a move to the Clippers has been driven by the franchise’s decision to re-sign Russell Westbrook.

This is unsurprising, given that Harden has a history of seeking out playing opportunities with those he considers friends. In fact, it’s been rumored on a number of occasions that Philadelphia’s two marquee free agent signings last summer, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, were heavily recruited because of Harden’s friendship with the two wings who he played with in Houston.

In regards to Westbrook, the two of them would be teaming up for the third time in their respective careers. They were both drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder, and were teammates for their 2012 run to the NBA finals.

Harden was traded that summer to the Houston Rockets, and the two would reunite seven years later when the Rockets traded now-Warriors point guard Chris Paul to the Thunder for Westbrook.

NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook may be behind James Harden’s Clippers interest

On a scale of it doesn’t hurt to it’s very beneficial for the Clippers, pairing Westbrook and Harden certainly leans more towards the latter, but the fact is that the two of them have always been successful in their two stints together.

We already mentioned their NBA Final appearance… 11 years ago. But even in Houston three seasons ago, they did win a playoff series in the bubble while then GM Daryl Morey went all-in on small ball.

However, a lot has changed for both players since then.

Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets and formed a dynamic yet painfully inconsistent trio with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The three of them only ever won one playoff series together before Harden was traded to the Sixers where he won two playoff series alongside reigning MVP Joel Embiid, but is ultimately remembered for his failures in Games 6 and 7 of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards in the middle of the 2020-21 season and helped lead the Wizards to a playoff berth, but they were swiftly knocked out in the first round by the Sixers.

The following summer he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers which was a catastrophe from the start. The desired trio of him, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis was never successful and Westbrook — perhaps rightfully — took most of the ire and blame for that.

Given where both players are in their respective careers – on the decline, and neither made an All-Star team last season – it would be overly optimistic to guarantee an on-court benefit from their partnership.

But keeping stars happy is important, and if teaming the two of them up again help accomplishes that there’s certainly a benefit there.

Harden’s play style is also very unique, and providing him with teammates who are familiar with his occasionally difficult offensive independence can help lead to success.

It is clear that Harden and Westbrook have an affection for one another, and that while there are likely many reasons for Harden’s desire to join the west coast franchise this is likely a high-ranking one on the list.

But recent reports seem to indicate no progress has been made on trade talks between the Clippers and Sixers. So for now, their interest in teaming up once again seems to be a distant reality in the short term.

That could likely change in the coming months, however, especially if Harden gets his way for the third time in three years.