Clippers Trade James Harden to Cavaliers for Darius Garland, Ending Los Angeles Star Era
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LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers on Tuesday agreed to trade 36-year-old guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for two-time All-Star Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick, ending Harden’s two-plus-season stay and effectively closing the franchise’s high-profile era built around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Amicable Departure
Hours before the deal was reached, Harden arrived at the team’s Playa Vista training facility in full Clippers gear, received treatment and worked out with teammates. Head coach Tyronn Lue joked with the veteran guard at the training table, calling him “weird,” Harden’s favorite word. “We’re all going to miss him,” Lue said. “Of course, his play. But just his personality.”
Unlike Harden’s previous exits from Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, no trade demand preceded Tuesday’s agreement. Harden said he chose not to veto the move, which he could have under the terms of his contract, to give the Clippers “a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital.”
Contract and Performance Factors
The seeds of the split were planted last summer when the Clippers declined to guarantee more than this season’s $39.2 million salary, citing Harden’s age and a desire for future cap flexibility. Harden, who averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds last season and earned third-team All-NBA honors, believed he had earned a deal similar to Jimmy Butler’s two-year, $111 million pact with Golden State.
He ultimately signed a two-year contract featuring a $42.3 million player option for 2026-27, only $13.8 million of which was guaranteed, plus veto power over any trade. Through 44 of the Clippers’ first 47 games this season, Harden appeared regularly, attempting to offset Leonard’s and George’s availability issues. Los Angeles nevertheless opened 6-21, prompting leaguewide interest in its core players.
Cleveland’s Pitch
With Houston showing little interest in a reunion, Cleveland emerged as a suitor. The Cavaliers see Harden as a playmaker who can maximize big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen while easing the offensive burden on Donovan Mitchell. Talks escalated late last week, leading Harden to sit out Sunday in Phoenix and Monday against Philadelphia for what the team labeled “personal reasons.”
Leonard Reflects on an Era
Leonard, now the last remaining star from the Clippers’ 2019 overhaul, acknowledged the chapter’s close after Wednesday’s game. “From what was expected… it’s over,” he said. “Guys are gone.”
Additional Moves
The Clippers have continued to reshape the roster, sending center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks.
Harden, the league’s 11-time All-Star, leaves Los Angeles having played 72 and 79 games in his first two seasons before this year’s 44-game stint. Looking ahead to Cleveland, he said, “I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
Source: ESPN
