4-Player NBA Trade Idea Sends James Harden To Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young To Los Angeles Clippers
A blockbuster four-player NBA trade idea sending James Harden to the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young to the Los Angeles Clippers has been created.
NBA writer Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea:
Atlanta Hawks receive: James Harden, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, $4.6 million trade exception (Trae Young)
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Trae Young, $5.4 million trade exception (Bradley Beal), $2.3 million trade exception (Chris Paul)
“The Hawks would waive injured forward N’Faly Dante before the deal (his $2 million is guaranteed because he is out for the season),” Pincus wrote. “Harden approves the deal to Atlanta (he can block it per the One-Year Bird rule), receiving a $2.3 million trade bonus. Young’s trade kicker is limited to just under $400,000 (since a player cannot earn a bonus that would put his salary over the maximum).
“The Hawks take in Harden for Young, generating the $4.6 million trade exception. Beal is acquired via the pre-existing Bogdan Bogdanović trade exception, and Paul is on a minimum contract. The Clippers acquire Young using Harden’s expanded trade exception, which is permitted for teams below the first apron (set at $195.9 million). L.A. gets back to 14 players via prorated minimum contracts. The Hawks remain under the luxury tax.”
The Hawks are open to trading Young, sources told Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal. Young is making $45.9 million this season. The Oklahoma product can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason by declining his 2026-27 player option worth $48.9 million.
Meanwhile, sources told Afseth that the Clippers have been rejecting trade calls for Harden, who is making $39.2 million this season. However, that could change if Los Angeles continues to struggle.
The Hawks are in 10th place in the East, while the Clippers are in 12th place in the West.
For Atlanta, Young is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game while shooting 41.5% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 86.3% from the free-throw line. The Hawks are only 2-8 when Young plays.
Meanwhile, Harden is averaging 25.7 points and 8.0 assists per game for Los Angeles while shooting 43.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 88.7% from the free-throw line. The Clippers are 12-20 with Harden in the lineup.
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