Clippers send James Harden to Cavaliers, acquire Darius Garland in two-player swap
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Los Angeles — The LA Clippers have reached an agreement to trade 11-time All-Star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland and a 2028 second-round pick, according to sources who spoke with ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Harden, 36, departs after a season and a half in Los Angeles and joins a Cleveland roster looking to contend immediately. The veteran guard is averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists in his 17th NBA campaign, his highest scoring output since leaving Houston. He signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract last summer that includes a $42 million player option for 2026-27.
Harden missed Sunday’s win in Phoenix and Monday’s home loss to Philadelphia for personal reasons, with head coach Tyronn Lue saying the guard remained at his home in Phoenix. Despite the absences, Harden has played more than 70 games in each of the past two seasons and is on pace to reach that mark again.
The Clippers acquired Harden from the 76ers in 2023 and made the playoffs in both of his full seasons, exiting in the first round each time. While the former MVP’s résumé includes scoring titles and an assist crown, a championship remains the one gap.
Garland, 26, has been limited to 26 games this season because of toe and foot injuries and last appeared on Jan. 14. He is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists and is midway through a five-year extension signed in 2022 that still has nearly $90 million remaining.
Drafted fifth overall in 2019, Garland helped launch Cleveland’s post-LeBron rebuild, making the All-Star team twice and directing the league’s top-ranked offense during last season’s 64-win campaign. Injuries and consecutive playoff letdowns, however, prompted the Cavaliers to reset around Harden’s win-now timeline.
With Garland under contract through 2028, the Clippers gain a younger floor leader who can contribute immediately while offering long-term roster stability.
Source: ESPN
