On June 20, news emerged that despite boasting a superstar quartet of James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook, and recording their best season since 2017, the 2023-24 campaign for the Los Angeles Clippers ended in disappointment with a first-round playoff exit.
During an appearance on his podcast “Podcast P with Paul George” on Wednesday, George, one of the Clippers’ key players, stated that the Harden trade negatively impacted the team.
“We actually started off last season really well. Everybody was playing well, we were energized. I was healthy, Kawhi was healthy, Russ found his groove, it was like a fresh start… Then we got James Harden, and we struggled. It’s not James’ fault, but obviously, with Covington, Batum leaving, we lost our glue, and they were big on our defensive side, KJ Martin as well. Losing those guys kind of hurt us.”
“Then even with getting James, who’s super talented offensively, suddenly I and Kawhi became the guys holding the team back…
“Trading for James, it wasn’t James’ fault, but what we lost was (forward Robert) Covington, we lost (forward Nicolas) Batum,” George said. “That was our glue. They were our defenders.”
Last November, the Clippers acquired Harden, a player who had requested trades three times in three years, by giving up four players, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and cash.