Harden, an 11-time All-Star, was traded for the fifth time in his profession after two and a half seasons on the LA Clippers.
Revealed On 4 Feb 2026
The Cavaliers and Clippers have finalised a commerce that sends 11-time All-Star James Harden to Cleveland, with Darius Garland and a second-round decide going to Los Angeles, ESPN and The Athletic each reported late on Tuesday.
Harden, 36, was held out of the Clippers’ lineup the final two video games for what the group labelled private causes.
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The previous NBA MVP and three-time scoring champ is averaging 25.4 factors, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 44 video games this season, his seventeenth within the NBA.
Harden may block any commerce as a result of he’s technically beneath contract for simply this season, which requires his approval for the swap. The second yr of his two-year, $81.5m deal is a participant possibility, which isn’t totally assured.
Garland, 26, has been sidelined since January 14 with a Grade 1 proper toe sprain.
The 2-time All-Star is averaging 18.0 factors and 6.9 assists over 26 video games this season. He’s within the third yr of a five-year, $197.2m contract.
The Cavaliers (30-21) are in rivalry within the Japanese Convention, one in all 4 groups with both 30 or 31 wins behind first-place Detroit (36-12), which explains the need to make a giant transfer by buying Harden.
The Clippers, 23-26, stay in play-in rivalry within the West, at present in ninth place.
The NBA commerce deadline is Thursday at 3pm ET (20:00 GMT).
