Grade the Trade idea: Mavericks land new starting center in James Harden blockbuster

Dallas lands starting center in blockbuster three-team trade with James Harden heading to the Clippers

Even though the Philadelphia 76ers "would love" to keep James Harden, I don't see him having a change of heart. If Harden wants to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, that's likely where he'll end up.

The only problem is that facilitating a two-team deal with just the Sixers and Clippers would be tough, so for the sake of this trade, we have Dallas as the third team involved. The Clippers would have to send out multiple players as Harden's contract is so massive, and the Mavs help out both teams in this trade.

**Sign-and-trade: Dallas' Christian Wood agrees to a three-year, $39 million contract in order to be traded to Philadelphia

As you can see, this trade lands Harden in Los Angeles, his No. 1 destination. While the Sixers trade Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Jaden Springer to the Clippers along with Dallas' JaVale McGee, they receive a haul of role players that can surround Joel Embiid.

The Sixers receive Tim Hardaway Jr., Norman Powell, Nicolas Batum, Christian Wood, and a future first-round pick. Trading Harden would be hard for the 76ers to do, but this trade gives them good compensation.

The Mavs help the salary work in this deal as they take Marcus Morris Sr.'s $17.1 million expiring contract along with Ivica Zubac, their new starting center.

Now we grade the trade for all three teams involved and discuss how the teams would look following this blockbuster.