Report: Harden targeting Monday vs. Knicks for Clippers debut

James Harden's Los Angeles Clippers debut is inching closer.

The guard is targeting Monday's contest against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden as the earliest potential game for his debut with L.A., The Athletic's Shams Charania reported on "Run It Back."

Harden won't play Wednesday night against the rival Los Angeles Lakers, according to Charania.

The veteran guard will reportedly practice with the team over the next few days to give him time to get competitive runs in with the Clippers. Harden has only participated in one five-on-five team scrimmage in the last month, a practice with the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 7.

Harden's trade request came to fruition on Tuesday when the Sixers moved the disgruntled guard to his preferred team, the Clippers, for a package that included Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Kenyon Martin Jr., a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks in 2024 and 2029, and a pick swap in 2029. P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev were also traded to the Clippers along with Harden.

The veteran guard averaged 21 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists last season for Philadelphia.