THE REPORT GIVES JAMES HARDEN SIGNING A “B+,” KEVIN PORTER JR. A “D”

The Los Angeles Clippers were at the center of the storm that enveloped Day 1 of the NBA’s free agency period. The Clippers lost superstar wingman Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers but made some headway in cushioning the blow of that massive loss with two crucial signings.

First, the Clippers gave 2018 NBA MVP James Harden a two-year deal worth $70 million. Then, they unexpectedly signed talented yet beleaguered guard Kevin Porter Jr., who is making his way back to the NBA after missing all of last season due to a domestic violence incident.

An expected return

While there was plenty of buzz surrounding where PG-13 could move after he opted out of his player option on Saturday, there wasn’t as much for Harden, the veteran, high-scoring guard who was an unrestricted free agent. This could have been so due to a myriad of reasons, such as teams with cap space not having an interest in a playmaker who would already be 35 years old when the season starts.

Whatever other teams’ reasons for not targeting “The Beard” were, the Clippers could not afford to lose the left-handed gunner in light of PG’s departure. Hence, the Clippers bit the bullet on Harden’s price tag, ensuring the ten-time NBA All-Star remains in Los Angeles.

“Now, they at least have a solid one-two punch on offense (when Kawhi Leonard is healthy). Harden essentially moving up to No. 2 in the pecking order means his numbers could see a bit of a boost. When Harden was on the floor last season with Kawhi (and without George), he averaged 19.4 points and 9.3 assists per 75 possessions,” Bleacher Report wrote.

This move comes as a relief for both fans and management, as it secures the Clippers’ backcourt for the foreseeable future. With Harden’s elite scoring ability and playmaking skills, he can take on some of the offensive burden left by PG’s absence and combine with Kawhi Leonard for a formidable two-some.

An eyebrow-raising move

While Harden’s re-signing made much sense for the Clippers, the team’s signing of KPG raised some eyebrows. After all, the 24-year-old was out of the league last season after getting arrested on a domestic violence charge while he was playing for the Houston Rockets. Not long after that incident, the Rockets cut ties with the former USC star, sending him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, OKC quickly waived him, and he soon went to the Greek club PAOK, where he played excellent basketball.

“Porter had a tense exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he left a game early with the Houston Rockets after arguing with an assistant coach,” BR said of KPJ. “If you're able to look past all of that, there's obviously talent here.”

Experts, though, remain unconvinced of KPJ’s fit with this Clippers squad, giving this signing a near-failing grade of “D.”

2024-07-04T19:53:28Z dg43tfdfdgfd