According to an NBA insider, the Clippers have a backup plan in case the James Harden trade doesn’t go through

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports claims that the team “continues to have interest in Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon.”

Earlier in the offseason, the Clippers attempted to acquire Brogdon from Boston, but their efforts were thwarted because of their concerns regarding his elbow injury.

In the Jrue Holiday trade, Brodgdon was sent to Portland, but the Blazers lost star guard Damian Lillard, so it’s not sure if they would want to split ways with the new guard.

Harden, for his part, is giving it all he has in the hopes of continuing to be traded to the Clippers, his dream team.

Neubeck stated, “The Sixers have one trump card to play as L.A. threatens to simply make a deal for someone else: James Harden has been a good soldier in preseason up to this point, putting forth a commendable effort in practices under new head coach Nick Nurse.” “It has been the most peculiar aspect of the entire situation, somewhat of a shock to those who anticipated Harden to stomp his feet and ruin the team.”

According to Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey, Harden’s new nemesis, Sixers president Daryl Morey, is not pleased with the way active conversations with LA are going.

Pompey stated, “The Clippers want to close a deal as soon as possible.” “They’re offering the 2018 MVP and three-time scoring champion their first-round pick, a draft-pick swap, and their expiring contracts. Los Angeles, according to a source, doesn’t want to increase their offer. The insider claimed that the Clippers don’t feel compelled to bid on him despite being the only team to do so. According to the source, Morey is the one impeding the agreement.

In his first media appearance on Friday afternoon, the ten-time All-Star was candid about whether he could mend his friendship with Morey.

“It’s just a matter of trusting people you’ve known for more than ten years,” Harden stated on Friday. “And my main goal was to retire a Sixer when I was traded here. It was my dream to retire a Sixer here. That was not part of the front office’s future plans. I literally have no control over it. I was not expecting to find myself in this situation. However, I must choose what’s best for my family.