76ers could lose another valuable player amid James Harden trade talks

With the James Harden holdout not expected to come to a closure anytime soon, the Philadelphia 76ers certainly have a ton on their plates as they prepare for the following season. However, Harden’s increasingly inevitable exit is not the only thing the front office should be wary of, it seems.

Harden’s camp has repeatedly voice out their preference for the LA Clippers as a destination. And while Philly could eventually yield to that plea, the Clippers are rumored to be looking into plucking another valuable player on the Sixers roster alongside the former MVP.

Clippers rumored to be eyeing another valuable player on the 76ers

PJ Tucker, Harden’s longtime running mate in Houston and Philadelphia, has reportedly come up multiple times in discussions between the 76ers and Clippers as both parties attempt to strike a deal before training camp. LA is pegged to be especially interested in the 12-year veteran’s defensive acumen, even at the ripe age of 38.

Los Angeles is expected to part ways with some combination of Marcus Morris Sr., Robert Covington, Norman Powell, and perhaps even Nicolas Batum either via a Harden trade or elsewhere. Nevertheless, this would leave them with a macerated profile on defense, especially considering Paul George and Kawhi Leonard’s ceaseless injury concerns.

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Tucker, of course, would be a quick remedy in that regard. Despite his well-known limitations on offense, his value remains lofty due to his ability to defend multiple positions and reputation as a notable blue-collar worker in the postseason, having been a part of the Bucks’ championship run two years ago.

Possibly losing Tucker would be quite the blow to the 76ers which touted the league’s ninth-best defense last season. His deal at just approximately $22.5 million in the next two years also offers a lot of value as a trade chip or an asset to keep.

The veteran enforcer may be at the twilight of his career, but there’s no denying the impact that he can still bring to a winning cause. Hopefully, the Philadelphia 76ers find an avenue where it’s possible to trade James Harden without the complicit factor of losing a valuable player like PJ Tucker.