A blockbuster NBA trade idea sending Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Miami Heat has been created.
NBA writer Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea:
Miami Heat receive: Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Chris Paul
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Kasparas Jakučionis, Terry Rozier, 2030 first-round pick and 2032 first-round pick
The Clippers are 10-21 on the season. They are in 13th place in the Western Conference standings.
Meanwhile, the Heat are 17-15. They are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Leonard is making $50 million this season, Harden is making $39.2 million and Paul is making $2.3 million.
For the Clippers this season, Leonard is averaging 27.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 49.5% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 97.6% from the free-throw line. The two-time Finals MVP scored 55 points against the Detroit Pistons.
Harden, the 2018 MVP with the Houston Rockets, is averaging 26.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game this season while shooting 43.5% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
Finally, Paul is away from the Clippers, who sent the future Hall of Famer home. Paul played in 16 games this season. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
To move on from Paul, the Clippers will have to waive him and pay out his $3.6 million salary, agree to a buyout or trade him.
The odds of this NBA trade idea happening are very, very low because the Clippers have been rejecting trade offers for Leonard and Harden, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. However, it’s fun to imagine Leonard and Harden next to Bam Adebayo in South Beach. Perhaps Heat fans can pull off this trade in NBA 2K.