Cavaliers Trade Darius Garland For Clippers’ James Harden 

Harden missed the Clippers’ last two games for personal reasons. Reports of a possible trade surfaced shortly after. Cleveland creates a dynamic backcourt by pairing Harden with superstar Donovan Mitchell. Harden held veto power over any deal. He also holds a partially guaranteed player option this offseason. This trade places him with a team better positioned to challenge for a championship. It also strengthens his path toward a new contract, which is the main reason why he pushed for a move out of Los Angeles.

Cleveland adds a bigger guard in Harden, a betterfit defensively. He ranks among the league’s best isolation scorers. He also serves as a high-level playmaker who raises a team’s offensive floor. Harden, an 11-time All-Star and three-time scoring champion, averages 25.4 points and 8.1 assists through 44 games this season. The 36-year-old shoots 41.9 percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc. He turns 37 in August.

Cleveland has already reshaped its roster in recent days. The team sent De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento. It also sent draft picks to Chicago. In return, the Cavaliers acquired Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, and two-way forward Emanuel Miller.

Clippers Land A Younger Core Piece

The Clippers receive a younger foundational player in Garland. He made the All-Star team last season. He helped power the league’s top offense. Garland turned 26 last month. He remains under contract through 2028. This season, he averages 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game. Garland shoots 36 percent from three and 86.1 percent from the free-throw line. He has appeared in only 26 games.

Garland missed the start of the season after surgery to repair turf toe in his left foot. He is currently sidelined with a right great toe sprain.