James Harden explains why he wanted a trade from Clippers

The Cleveland Cavaliers keep making moves. Right after getting Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to bolster their second unit, they acquired a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

James Harden will officially take his talents to Ohio, with Darius Garland leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers. The trade came out of left field, with less than 24 hours since the first report of Harden's alleged desire to leave.

Even so, it's not like Harden wasn't comfortable in Los Angeles or that his relationship with the team became estranged. When asked about his decision, he claimed he didn't want to be an anchor for the team's future.

James Harden breaks the silence on another shocking trade

"[I] didn't want to feel like I was holding the Clippers up in their future. I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital," Harden said, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. 

Harden reportedly didn't formally request a trade. Even so, he felt that both parties had outgrown one another, and he liked his chances of winning a ring in Cleveland better.

"In Cleveland, I see an opportunity to win in the East— they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go; I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance," added Harden.

Harden's legacy will always be a complex subject of debate. He's undeniably one of the most dominant scorers and playmakers of his time, but his lack of postseason success and all the jumping teams inevitably took a toll on his reputation.

The Cavs are finally going all-in at the expense of their core four, and with all the injuries Garland has dealt with in recent years, perhaps they didn't think he would ever be available full-time or get back to his former level.