James Harden Traded to Clippers: NBA Championship Odds Impacted?

A significant trade in the NBA has sent shockwaves through the league, with former Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden joining the Los Angeles Clippers. This move has not only reshuffled the NBA landscape but also greatly influenced the Pennsylvania betting odds for the 2023-2024 season.

In a trade reported by ESPN, James Harden was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers. In exchange, the 76ers acquired Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, and multiple draft picks. Additionally, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev will be joining the Clippers. 

This marks Harden's fifth NBA team and his third in the last five seasons. It's a significant development in a career that has seen him play for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and now the Clippers.

Harden's impressive career spans 1,000 NBA games, during which he has averaged 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. While his point production dipped in the last two seasons to 21.0 points per game, it's worth noting that he was a scoring champion for three consecutive seasons from 2017-2018 to 2019-2020. 

He was also named the NBA MVP in 2018, a 10-time All-Star, and is ranked among the top 25 players in NBA history for both points and assists. Furthermore, he was honored as one of the 75 best NBA players of all time during the league's 75th-anniversary celebration.

Despite his incredible regular-season performances, James Harden has encountered criticism in recent years due to his playoff showings, which have often fallen short of his regular-season brilliance. In 160 playoff games, he averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.

Harden's journey to the Clippers began with a trade request earlier this year, during which he publicly criticized Daryl Morey, the 76ers' president of basketball operations. Following this request, Harden has not played in any of the 76ers' games during the 2023-2024 season.

The Clippers have significantly bolstered their roster with the addition of James Harden, joining other NBA stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook. Their aim is clear: to secure their first-ever NBA Championship in franchise history. 

Despite being a dominant force in the regular season, Harden's career has been marked by an absence of NBA Championship victories. With this trade, the Clippers are poised to make a strong bid for the title.

BetMGM, a prominent sportsbook a top PA online sportsbook couldn't resist poking some fun at Harden's playoff history. They humorously coined "The James Harden Cycle," highlighting the pattern of excitement, regular-season brilliance, playoff struggles, and subsequent trade requests that has characterized Harden's recent career.

The impact of the Harden trade has reverberated through the betting world, significantly altering the odds for the 2023-2024 NBA Championship. At DraftKings, the Clippers are now listed with odds of +1200 to win the NBA Championship, tied with the Golden State Warriors for the fifth-best odds. Leading the pack are the Boston Celtics (+390), Milwaukee Bucks (+400), Denver Nuggets (+500), and Phoenix Suns (+700).

Prior to the trade, the Clippers had odds of +1700 to win the NBA Championship. Additionally, the Clippers' odds to win the Eastern Conference now stand at +700, making them one of the top contenders.

At BetMGM, the Clippers' NBA Championship odds improved from +2200 to +1300 after the trade. Interestingly, BetMGM's MVP odds for Harden are listed at +15,000.

In Conclusion, the James Harden trade to the Los Angeles Clippers has created a seismic shift in the NBA landscape, with the Clippers emerging as a strong championship contender. 

Harden's arrival could be the missing piece in the Clippers' quest for their first NBA Championship, and this intriguing storyline is sure to captivate both basketball fans and sports bettors alike. As the 2023-2024 NBA season unfolds, all eyes will be on Harden and the Clippers as they chase the ultimate prize.