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ramona shelburne
multiple authors
LA Clippers 11-time All-Star guard traded james harden till cleveland cavaliers for the guard darius garland and a second-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Due to the nature of his contract, Harden effectively had veto power over any trade. He worked the past few days during a blowout with the Clippers (23-26), with both sides happy with the outcome — a “win-now” opportunity for Harden, who is playing at a high level at age 36, and for the Clippers, the 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 “keeping the Clippers in his future.”
“I wanted them to have a chance to really 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’ve got a really good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to be in L.A. and try it out, I’ve never won before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a little better chance.”
Harden vehemently denied speculation that he had requested a trade from the Clippers.
“It wasn’t like that at all,” he said. “In life, not just in basketball, when things don’t work out, in relationships there are ways to end things without hurting each other. ‘Okay, maybe we don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we’ve outgrown each other.’ No matter what the case may be. “I guess our circumstances weren’t like that.”
Harden said he could respect owner Steve Ballmer, team president Lawrence Frank and head coach Tyronn Lue “because they didn’t put me in as awkward a situation as everyone else tried to make it out to be.”
For the Cavaliers (30-21), Harden’s addition has the potential to raise the team’s ceiling as it continues to compete for the Eastern Conference title. It aligns two high-powered, multi-functional engines in Harden and Donovan MitchellJoe is two of only 10 eligible players in the NBA to average at least 25 points and five assists this season, according to ESPN Research, and is now the only teammate in that group.
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 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 very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and will do whatever it takes to win.”
James Harden on the Cavs-Clippers trade
Harden sought more security in talks with the Clippers over the summer after a solid season in which he was named Third Team All-NBA, but L.A. declined to offer him a long-term deal due to his age and organizational preference of long-term flexibility. fellow superstar kawhi leonard He 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 and Monday’s game in Phoenix. philadelphia 76ers The team announced this due to personal reasons. Lue said before Monday’s game that Harden was at his home in Phoenix.
Harden told ESPN he was back in Los Angeles on Tuesday and spent an emotional day at the team facility knowing a trade was imminent.
“It’s been a very bad two and a half years for us,” Harden said. “We didn’t reach the goals we all wanted to reach, but I think we created some great memories, wins and fun moments 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 very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and will do whatever it takes to win.”
The Cavaliers coincidentally play the Clippers on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome, and Garland traveled with the team. Both players must pass a physical before the trade can be made official.
Over the past 24 hours, as the trade came to fruition, the Cavaliers’ odds to win the NBA title increased from 22-1 to 12-1 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Cavs jump after news of trade Tuesday boston celtics, San Antonio Spurs And detroit pistons The title is tied at odds with and now new York Knicks With the third lowest title difference, behind denver nuggets And oklahoma city thunder.
Harden has helped the Clippers bounce back from a disappointing 6-21 start to the season. He recently told ESPN that he feels “blessed” to be playing in his hometown of Los Angeles and that he is confident the Clippers can “completely bounce back” from their rough start.
LA has gone 17-4 since December 20 and have moved back into ninth place in the Western Conference. But the Clippers’ poor start forced teams to inquire about Harden’s availability in trade discussions. Negotiations with the Cavaliers progressed last week ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
The Clippers were Harden’s fifth team after 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 averaged 18.0 points and 6.9 assists in 26 games this season, has been limited by separate toe injuries, the most recent of which was a diagnosed Grade 1 sprain in his right big toe. He has not played any match since January 14.
Cleveland’s rebuild begins after Garland’s selection in the 2019 draft Lebron James signed with Los Angeles LakersAnd the point guard developed into a two-time All-Star with the Cavaliers. But injuries as well as playoff disappointments in recent seasons prompted 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.
