Sources: Clippers trade James Harden to Cavaliers for Darius Garland

James Harden had talked often about his desire to end his career in his hometown and recently described himself as “blessed” to play for the Clippers near where he grew up in Artesia.

“Being at home, that’s like the opportunity of a lifetime for me,” Harden told ESPN last month.

Harden’s priorities have changed and are now to bring a second championship to Cleveland after the Clippers and Cavaliers completed a trade Tuesday that brings Darius Garland to L.A. in an exchange of point guards, according to multiple sources. The Clippers will also receive Cleveland’s second-round pick in 2026.

Harden, who turns 37 in August, had been looking to secure a two-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $80 million after this season. But the Clippers (23-26) are prioritizing their salary cap space heading into summer 2027 and were willing to let the 11-time All-Star pursue trades. The trade still needs to be approved by the league office.

The 26-year-old Garland, a two-time All-Star who has played all seven of his NBA seasons in Cleveland, gives the Clippers a younger point guard who can help them now and in the future. The No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft is a dynamic playmaker, averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists, while shooting 36% from 3-point range and 86.1% from the free-throw line in just 26 games. His best season came last year when he averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 40% from behind the arc.

Garland’s salary for this season is nearly identical to Harden’s, but he has two years and nearly $90 million left on his contract after this season.

Garland missed the start of this season after having surgery to repair turf toe in his left foot and has been sidelined since Jan. 14 when he suffered a great toe sprain in his right foot when he dove for a loose ball in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He was expected to be re-evaluated in late January but has missed the past nine games.

Harden, who has never won a championship, gives the Cavaliers (30-21) a bigger, more potent backcourt alongside with All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and a strong chance at a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

The former league MVP – who had requested and been granted a trade three times previously in his career – did not play in the Clippers’ past two games while dealing with what the team called “personal issues.” It is not known whether he will be in a Cavaliers uniform when the Clippers play host to Cleveland on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome.

The Clippers acquired Harden in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in November 2023, and he has been a workhorse for the Clippers, especially when fellow star Kawhi Leonard has been sidelined because of injuries.

And this season, Harden has been instrumental in helping the Clippers win 17 of their past 22 games after starting the season at 6-21, one of the reasons many were shocked to learn he was interested in leaving.

He is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 35.4 minutes per game while shooting 41.9% from the field, 34.7% from 3-point range and 90.1% from the free-throw line in 44 games.

One of just four players in the league averaging at least 25 points and 8 assists (the Lakers’ Luka Doncic, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham are the others), Harden is having his best season since he was with the Houston Rockets in 2019-20. And together with a healthy Leonard, the Clippers saw the kind of success they envisioned three years ago.

Leonard, Harden’s closest friend on the team, said word of a potential trade, which was first reported on Monday night, came as a surprise.

“Respect his decision or whoever’s decision it is,” Leonard said after Monday’s loss to the 76ers. “That’s it. He’s still going to be my boy and (I) trust the front office.”

NEXT MOVES

Between now and Thursday’s noon PT trade deadline, the Clippers will be looking to trade veteran point guard Chris Paul or waive the veteran with the intended goal of freeing up salary space and converting the two-way contracts of Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.