THE BEARD IS HERE
Harden gets warm welcome in Clippers locker room after trade
LOS ANGELES ❯❯ Clippers coach Tyronn Lue danced around the questions, side-stepping any mention of the widely publicized trade involving a 10-time All-Star. He evaded all talk directed at a roster shake-up, turning Tuesday's pregame news conference into a routine news conference about rebounding and transition defense.
Without an official deal in place, Lue was limited in what he could say about the team trading for former league MVP James Harden and veteran forward P.J. Tucker, a deal that was agreed upon late Monday night.
What's going on around here these days, Lue was asked.
“Just our mindset and our approach,” Lue said of the team's approach to playing the Orlando Magic. “Playing hard, practicing hard, getting better every day. That's about it.”
It became difficult to ignore the obvious when the two new additions arrived at Crypto.com Arena, stopping to meet owner Steve Ballmer as cameras flashed on their way to the locker room, where their jerseys hung in newly assigned lockers.
Asked if he was excited as he strolled into the locker room, Harden said, “You don't understand.”
The terms of the deal had not become official before the Clippers tipped off against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, but the Clippers are reportedly sending Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris and KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round
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