Ty Lue’s blunt response to a question about James Harden trade rumors
On Monday night, Los Angeles Clippers‘ The 128-113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at home took a back seat to the loud bombast caused by Reported James Harden trade request. The Clippers surged toward a playoff spot after a rough 6-21 start, but now must deal with Harden’s wandering eye while prioritizing how to stay competitive in the interim.
With the topic of Harden’s trade request being the biggest headline defining the Clippers right now, the team had to be asked by reporters after the game about their thoughts on the matter. Head coach Tyronn Luehowever, closed questions regarding Harden’s potential exit.
“I can’t comment on rumors. I’m sorry,” Lue said in his postgame presser, via Swish Cultures on X (formerly Twitter).
“I can’t comment on rumours. Sorry.”
Clippers coach Ty Lue on James Harden trade rumors 🗣
(via @svishcultures_)pic.twitter.com/bv4jeGdEs6 https://t.co/JeMFCZsKTKS
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 3, 2026
The Clippers have a few days to address this issue so they don’t risk letting Harden build up some resentment toward the team, which could then seep into their performance on the court.
Lue and the rest of the Clippers’ brain trust are keeping quiet, but one would think they’re working overtime to try to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
Why did James Harden request a trade amid the Clippers?
Harden has played brilliantly all season, putting up 25 and eight a night to try and shore up a Clippers team short on talent and understaffed. So it’s quite strange that would now request a trade that LA has somewhat righted the ship.
But the reasoning behind his trade demand is clear: he wants a new contract that extends beyond the 2026-27 season, and the Clippers, adamant about staying open through the summer of 2027, won’t give it to him. Harden is looking for a team to agree to his request, and sometimes parting ways come down to something as simple as that.
2026-02-03 06:25:00
