The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers completed a major trade on Tuesday, sending 11-time All-Star guard James Harden to Cleveland and two-time All-Star Darius Garland to Los Angeles.
Harden’s Exit From L.A.
Harden told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne he collaborated with the Clippers to find a deal because he “didn’t want to feel like an impediment” to the franchise’s future. “I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital,” he said. The veteran added that he sees “an opportunity to win in the East” with Cleveland, calling the Cavaliers’ roster, coaching staff and overall situation “very good.”
The guard denied making a formal trade request, explaining that he had hoped to sign a two-year contract last summer while the Clippers preferred to preserve 2027 cap space. “Both sides recognized we didn’t envision a long-term future together,” he noted.
Harden had missed Los Angeles’ past two games for personal reasons but spent Tuesday at the team’s practice facility. Reflecting on his Clippers tenure, he said, “We had a hell of a two-and-a-half years. We didn’t reach the goals we wanted, but we built great memories.”
Mitchell’s Push for Reinforcements
According to The Athletic, Cleveland’s front office concluded in early January that the roster was not title-ready. Three league sources told the outlet that star guard Donovan Mitchell urged the club to seek in-season upgrades, and two sources said he specifically wanted to pair with Harden. A league insider familiar with the Cavaliers’ thinking told Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, “If Don wants it, it’s happening.”
Mitchell becomes extension-eligible this offseason, holds one more guaranteed season and a 2027-28 player option, and could reach free agency in 2027. Cleveland has been selling him on a long-term stay since acquiring him in 2022, fearing another early playoff exit might derail extension hopes.
Garland’s Move West
While Mitchell and Garland have repeatedly expressed public confidence in their partnership, sources told The Athletic they privately acknowledged the pairing was an imperfect fit in a small backcourt. Garland’s representatives approved the trade to Los Angeles.
Fischer reported the Cavaliers were not actively shopping Garland, whose market value slipped over the past year amid toe issues, but the deal materialized quickly once Harden’s camp identified Cleveland as a preferred win-now landing spot.
A person familiar with Garland’s recovery from a Grade 1 right great toe sprain told EssentiallySports’ Mark Medina the 26-year-old is expected to debut for the Clippers shortly after the All-Star break and is optimistic about his new role.
The transaction gives Harden a fresh pursuit of his first championship in the Eastern Conference while providing Garland a reset on a Clippers roster looking to retool around new backcourt dynamics.
Source: Hoops Rumors
