The LA Clippers traded 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 due to the nature of his contract. He’s worked through his exit with the Clippers (23-26) over the past few days, leading to a result both sides were happy with — a “win now” opportunity for Harden, who is playing at a high level at age 36, and for the Clippers, All-Star Garland, who is 26, can help now and in the future.
Harden told ESPN on Tuesday night that he doesn’t want to feel like he’s “holding the Clippers’ future.”
“I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some capital,” Harden said, adding that he’s excited to join the Cavaliers because “I see an opportunity to win in the East — they’ve got a great team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in LA and try, I’ve never won a little bit before. I think we have a great chance for basketball.”
Harden has strongly denied speculation that he has requested a trade from the Clippers.
“It wasn’t like that at all,” he said. “In life, even just in basketball, when things don’t go well, there are ways to end things in a relationship without breaking up. ‘Okay, maybe we don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we just got over each other.'” Either way. I feel like our circumstances weren’t like that.”
Harden added that he can respect owner Steve Ballmer, team president Lawrence Frank and head coach Tyronn Lue “because they didn’t put me in a weird position like everybody else is trying to do.”
For the Cavaliers (30-21), the addition of Harden has the potential to raise the team’s ceiling as they continue to fight for the Eastern Conference title. It aligns with two high-powered, versatile engines in Harden and Donovan Mitchell, who are the only two of the 10 professional players in the NBA to average at least 25 points and five assists this season and are now the only team-mates on that team, 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’s a business and I think both sides got what they wanted, they’re in a good place and they’re very happy. I’m happy for Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win.”
James Harden in the Cavs-Clippers trade
Harden sought more security in talks with the Clippers over the summer after a strong season in which he was named third-team All-NBA, but LA declined to offer him a long-term deal due to his age and the organization’s prioritization of long-term flexibility. Teammate Kawhi Leonard has only one year left on his contract after this season.
As negotiations with the Cavaliers intensified last week, Harden sat out Sunday’s game at Phoenix and Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers for what the team announced were personal reasons. Lue said before Monday’s game Harden was at home in Phoenix.
Harden told ESPN he returned from Los Angeles on Tuesday and spent an emotional day at the team’s facility knowing a trade was imminent.
“We’ve had a hell of a 2½ years,” Harden said. “We didn’t achieve the goals we all wanted to achieve, but I think we created some great memories, victories and good times for all of us.
“At the end of the day it’s a business and I think both sides got what they wanted, they’re in a good place and they’re very happy. I’m happy for Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win.”
The Cavaliers played the Clippers on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome, and Garland traveled with the team. Both players will need to pass a physical before the trade becomes official.
In the last 24 hours, since the trade took place, the odds of the Cavaliers winning the NBA title have gone from 22-1 to 12-1 at DraftKings Sportsbook. After the trade was announced on Tuesday, the Cavs leapfrogged the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons for the title and are now tied with the New York Knicks for the third-most points, behind the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harden helped lead the Clippers from a 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 back” from their rough start.
LA has gone 17-4 since Dec. 20 to climb back into ninth place in the Western Conference. But the Clippers’ poor start forced teams to inquire about Harden’s availability in trade talks. Talks with the Cavaliers have picked up this past week ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
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 this season, has been limited this season by various toe injuries, the most recent of which was his Grade 1 right toe. He has not played since Jan. 14.
Garland’s 2019 draft pick restarted Cleveland 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, along with playoff disappointments, have led Cleveland to move on.
Garland’s best season came in 2024-25 when he averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 40% from 3. He earned All-Star honors and helped lead the Cavaliers to a 64-win season and the best offense in the league.
