The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard instead of James Harden this offseason, and it appears as if they made the right move in that regard. Yes, Milwaukee is off a 5-4 start this season, and there needs to be time in this process with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard. However, Harden appears to be a distraction no matter where he goes.
Since Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, they are 0-4 after they started the season 3-2. They lost to the 2-8 Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night 105-101. The chemistry between Harden, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard is not working currently.
James Harden thought he was the system when coming to the Clippers after being traded away from the Philadelphia 76ers. Well, it is no surprise it hasn’t worked out for Los Angeles, and Philadelphia has the best record in the Eastern Conference at 8-1.
They have won the last six games, and Tyrese Maxey has balled out. He and Joel Embiid are the two best players on the roster. The 76ers and the Boston Celtics appear to be the biggest threats in the Eastern Conference to the Milwaukee Bucks’ title hopes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard Get Along Fine on the Milwaukee Bucks, and James Harden Would Have Been a Bad Fit on Milwaukee
There is a huge difference between Lillard and Harden as basketball players. Damian Lillard has a clutch gene about him, even though he has never been to an NBA Finals appearance. Lillard was also very loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers organization until he was traded to Milwaukee and always wanted to work through the grind in order to win an NBA title.
As for James Harden, he always wants the easy way out. Harden has requested out of several places, including the Brooklyn Nets and the Houston Rockets. Harden has no NBA titles to show for it and always wants it easy. Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo would have been a disaster together.
James Harden would walk in thinking he is the system. Harden would not be the system for the Bucks because that is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team and always will be. Antetokounmpo has already deferred to Damian Lillard in clutch situations. History also shows that Lillard is way more clutch than Harden when it matters the most, and fans should be happy that the Bucks went after Damian Lillard and not James Harden.
