Multiple Authors
The LA Clippers have traded 11-time All-Star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Harden effectively had veto power over any trade because of the nature of his contract. He worked through his exit with the Clippers (23-26) over the past few days, resulting in an outcome both sides were happy with. It’s a win-now championship opportunity for Harden, who is playing at a high level at age 36, and the Clippers get a two-time All-Star in Garland who, at age 26, can help now and in the future.
Harden told ESPN late Tuesday night that he didn’t want to feel like he was “holding the Clippers up in their future.”
“I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital,” Harden said, adding that he was excited to join the Cavaliers because “I see an opportunity to win in the East. They got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in L.A. and give it a go, I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
Harden emphatically denied speculation that he had requested a trade from the Clippers.
“That wasn’t the case at all,” he said. “In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other. ‘OK, maybe we just don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other.’ Whatever the case may be. I feel like our situations weren’t like that.”
Harden said he respected owner Steve Ballmer, team president Lawrence Frank and coach Tyronn Lue “because they didn’t put me in a weird position as much as everybody tried to make it like that.”
For the Cavaliers (30-21), the addition of Harden could elevate the team’s ceiling as they contend for an Eastern Conference title. It aligns two high-powered, multifaceted engines in Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who are two of only 10 qualified players in the NBA averaging at least 25 points and five assists this season and are now the only teammates among that group, according to ESPN Research.
Garland is in the third year of a five-year, $197 million contract. Harden is making $39.3 million this season, with $13.8 million of his $49.2 million salary for next season guaranteed.
“At the end of the day, it is a business, and I think both sides got what they wanted, are in a great place and are very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win.”
James Harden on Cavs-Clippers trade
Harden had sought more security in negotiations with the Clippers over the summer after a solid season in which he was named third-team All-NBA, but LA declined to offer him a longer-term deal because of his age and an organizational prioritization of long-term flexibility. Fellow superstar Kawhi Leonard has only one year left on his contract after this season.
As talks with the Cavaliers intensified over the past week, Harden sat out Sunday’s game in Phoenix and Monday’s game against Philadelphia for what the team announced as personal reasons. Lue said before Monday’s game that Harden was at his home in Phoenix.
Harden told ESPN that he was back in Los Angeles on Tuesday and spent an emotional day at the team’s facility knowing a trade was imminent.
“We had a hell of a 2½ years,” Harden said. “We didn’t reach the goals that we all wanted to reach, but I think we built some great memories, wins and fun moments for all of us.
“At the end of the day, it is a business, and I think both sides got what they wanted, are in a great place and are very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win.”
James Harden is headed to a 30-21 Cavaliers team that sits in fifth place in the East. “As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance,” he said. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
The Cavaliers coincidentally play the Clippers on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome, and Garland traveled with the team. Both players will need to pass physicals before the trade is official.
Over the past 24 hours, as the trade materialized, the Cavaliers’ odds to win the NBA title moved from 22-1 to 12-1 at DraftKings Sportsbook. After the trade was reported Tuesday, the Cavaliers leaped the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons in the title odds and now are tied with the New York Knicks with the third-shortest title odds, behind the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harden helped lead the Clippers back from a dismal 6-21 start to the season. He recently told ESPN that he felt “blessed” to be playing in his hometown of Los Angeles and was confident the Clippers could “come all the way back” from their poor start.
The Clippers have gone 17-4 since Dec. 20 to climb back to ninth in the Western Conference. But the poor start compelled teams to inquire about Harden’s availability in trade discussions.
The Clippers were Harden’s fifth team following stints in Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia. LA acquired Harden from Philadelphia in 2023 to pair with superstars Leonard and Paul George.
George left for Philadelphia as a free agent in the summer of 2024 and was recently suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s drug policy.
Garland, who is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists in 26 games, has been limited this season because of separate toe injuries, the most recent of which was diagnosed as a Grade 1 sprain of his right big toe. He has not played since Jan. 14.
Garland’s selection in the 2019 draft kick-started Cleveland’s rebuild after LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the point guard blossomed into a two-time All-Star with the Cavaliers. But injuries in recent seasons, as well as playoff disappointments, led Cleveland to move on.
His best season came in 2024-25 when he averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 40.1% from 3. He earned All-Star honors and helped lead the Cavaliers to a 64-win season and the best offense in the NBA.
