It's over, the Clippers are finished! Reports say Harden is close to requesting a trade.

Taking down his former team, Powell shot 12 of 18, including 6 of 10 from three, scoring 30 points to lead the Heat in a dominant 140-123 rout over the Clippers.

This season, Powell and the Heat have completed a season sweep against the Clippers, averaging 25.5 points per game during this stretch, showing consistent and powerful offense that makes his old team regret their three-way trade decision this summer again and again.

Here are the Heat’s stats:

Here are the Clippers’ stats:

Harden’s plus-minus of -39 sets a new career low for a single game, it’s painfully obvious...

So far this season, the Clippers stand at 5 wins and 16 losses, second to last in the Western Conference. Harden has played in 20 of those games, averaging 35.1 minutes, 26.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 4.1 turnovers, and 1 steal per game, with shooting percentages of 43.5% from the field, 36.9% from three, and 90.6% from the free throw line.

According to Clippers reporter Iliyan Lakhani,Harden appears to be nearing a trade request.His current contract runs through the summer of 2027, with a salary of $39.18 million this season and $42.32 million in the final year. He holds a player option next summer allowing him to opt-out and become a free agent early.

Just a few days ago, a three-team trade proposal was reported as follows:

The Timberwolves would receive Harden, Batum, and Dunn; the Bulls would get Reed, DiVincenzo, and Lauri Markkanen; the Clippers would acquire Dillingham, Zach Collins, Huerter, Conley, plus first-round picks in 2026, 2027, a 2028 first-round pick swap, and a 2030 first-round pick.

If this deal goes through, it would be a lifeline for the Clippers who have struggled with their first-round picks being held by the Thunder. Otherwise, they might have already tanked. Now, trading Harden for three first-round picks is a dream come true, and they might even pay out of pocket to book his flight to Minnesota immediately.

The Timberwolves currently rank sixth in the Western Conference with a 12-8 record. Adding Harden as their primary ball-handler could elevate the team further and allow Edwards to focus more on scoring. Edwards is currently averaging 28.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.7 turnovers, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 49.1% overall and 40.9% on 3.5 three-pointers per game.

Bringing his talent to the Timberwolves is far better than sinking meaninglessly with the Clippers, and this might be Harden’s last genuine shot at a championship in his career.