Clippers Veteran Labeled ‘Untouchable’ in James Harden Trade Talks

The Clippers are reportedly labeling one of their non-star veterans as "untouchable" in trade talks centered around James Harden.

It’s been a while since James Harden has attempted to apply some real pressure on the Philadelphia 76ers to strike a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s unclear if Harden’s willing to go the uncomfortable route again in an attempt to get things moving, but right now, it seems the Sixers and the Clippers remain far away from finalizing anything.

LA’s interest in acquiring Harden is clear, but they don’t want to bet against themselves in the one-team market just to land him. Lately, it’s been reported that the Clippers want to offer a first-round pick, pick swaps, and salary filler for Harden. The Sixers would like to be compensated with a package that could help them then flip assets into another All-Star caliber player — aka the Ben Simmons blueprint.

While the “flip draft picks” route seems to be the scenario the Sixers are most interested in at this time, Clippers’ Terance Mann is a player who’s been of interest to Philadelphia as well. 

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers are “interested” in a package that would include multiple picks, along with Mann. 

However, Pompey writes that Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey “knows Mann is untouchable.”

In a few days, the young veteran guard will turn 27 years old as he heads into his fifth NBA season. The former second-round pick out of Florida State has been a reserve throughout his career, coming off the bench for 185 of the 270 games he’s appeared in.

Throughout his career, Mann has averaged eight points, four rebounds, and two assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep. Defensively, Mann has been praised over time for the value he brings on the side of the court that doesn’t show up in the box statistics. 

The Clippers have proven they don’t want to meet Philadelphia’s asking price simply because they understand they’re only bidding against themselves for a player who truly doesn’t want to be where he’s at. The Sixers, on the other hand, are sticking to their game plan in the Harden saga and staying firm on their asking price.

We’ve seen this movie before with the Ben Simmons saga. When Morey wanted James Harden in exchange for the three-time All-Star, he didn’t move Simmons until he got Harden. If picks and Mann is the package Morey is truly working towards, then he won’t part ways with Harden until that’s available to him.