Now was that so Hard(en) after all?

James Harden traded to the Clippers for what can be accurately regarded as Stuff.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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Two Laughing Boys With a Mug of Beer; Frans Hals; 1626

A mighty discomfort has been excised from this world thanks to heroic actions from Daryl Morey, Lawrence Frank and the phenomenon of lowered expectations.

In the embers of the Devil’s Night, the Sixers traded James Harden, Filip Petrusev and P.J. Tucker to the Clippers for Robert Covington, K.J. Martin, Nicolas Batum and Marcus Morris, plus a protected 2026 pick from Oklahoma City, the Clips’ unprotected 2028 first-round pick, a 2029 pick swap and two seconds. In other words: Harden for Picks and Stuff. The Clippers are giving the Thunder 2027 pick swap for them to send the protected ‘26 pick to Philly. It’s unclear as I’m hitting “send” whether that ‘26 pick is the Clippers’ pick (owned by OKC) or OKC’s own. I imagine L.A.’s will be more valuable.

Here’s how I’m thinking about all of this: