Clippers Get James Harden! How Does this Trade Impact the Lakers and the Western Conference?

The Lakers may have won on Monday and evened their record at 2-2, but the big postgame news had nothing to do with them. The Clippers and Sixers agreed on a massive trade, sending James Harden to LA for draft compensation, mostly. Other human basketballers also moved in the deal, and whether PJ Tucker going to the Clippers or a host of dudes (K-Mart Jr., Nic Batum, Marcus Morris, etc.) going to Philly, some might make a difference, if only on the margins. But the big thing for the Lakers is what Harden means for the Clippers. For starters, it means the LAC are likely going to be shorthanded tonight when they "visit" the Lakers. Not in the same way Phoenix was last week (the stars are likely playing) but robbed of some depth. That tilts the game more towards the Lakers and (as it was vs. Phoenix) makes the game more winnable and therefore more important. These head-to-head games can/will have big implications for playoff seeding. Long term, does this trade vault the Clippers into that top-half-of-the-West conversation with the Nuggets, Suns, Lakers and (for some at least) Memphis? Should the prospect of a Harden/George/Leonard Big Three scare Lakers fans? Clearly many have been hoping the Clips would make this deal, and then commit long term to Harden because his recent history is that of a franchise killer who doesn't even perform in the playoffs well enough to be worth the headache. There is certainly an outcome here where the Clippers go up in flames. Like, badly. But is that guaranteed? Is Harden as bad now as his reputation might suggest? He's not trash, that's for sure. And if — if — everyone buys in and stays healthy, that's a brutally difficult offensive trio to stop, and with George and Kawhi, the Clippers probably still have the foundations of a good enough defense to absorb Harden's deficiencies. It's going to be very, very interesting. Meanwhile, the Lakers have not gotten off to the hottest start in the world, and there is definitely some disappointment on the part of fans, at least judging by the comments on the YouTube page. So are they right? Where have the Lakers been a letdown over the first four games? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Harden to LA, in the short term, gives the Lakers an advantage tonight. SEGMENT 2: Harden to LA, in the long term? Nobody. Knows. It could definitely work... but it could definitely implode, too. SEGMENT 3: Have the Lakers been a disappointment through four games? If yes, how so? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Score early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins!  Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices