Eleven-time All-Star guard James Harden is being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Los Angeles Clippers agreeing to send him to the Eastern Conference during his highest-scoring season in six years.
The Cavaliers are giving up point guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, according to multiple reports, with the approval expected on Wednesday before the Cavaliers and Clippers face off.
Harden’s trade comes before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline and ends his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Clippers, having previously played for Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
James Harden is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers to join the Cleveland Cavaliers
The 36-year-old is averaging 25.4 points this season – his most since averaging 34.3 points in 2019-20 – and has been a huge part of the Clippers’ resurgence back into playoff contention after a dismal 6-21 start.
“He means a lot to our team and we’ve seen it the last three years,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said on Monday night when stories began breaking indicating such a move was close. “Who wouldn’t want to have James Harden?”
The Cavaliers will pair Harden with another star guard in Donovan Mitchell ahead of their push for the Eastern Conference title, while the Clippers get Garland – a two-time All-Star, averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists this season for Cleveland.
Harden opted out of the final year of his contract last summer with the Clippers to sign a new deal that would have been worth $81.5m (£59.4m) for this season and the 2026-27 campaign.
Next year is at his option, which basically means he was on a one-year contract anyway, although he has emphatically denied speculation that he’d requested a trade from the Clippers.
Cavaliers will be Harden’s sixth NBA side
“That wasn’t the case at all,” he told ESPN. “In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other.
‘OK, maybe we just don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other.’ Whatever the case may be. I feel like our situations weren’t like that.”
On leaving the Clippers, Harden added: “We had a hell of a two-and-a-half years. “We didn’t reach the goals that we all wanted to reach, but I think we built some great memories, wins and fun moments for all of us.
“At the end of the day it is a business and I think both sides got what they wanted, are in a great place and are very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win.”
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