The Clippers and Cavaliers have had advanced talks about a blockbuster trade that would send James Harden to Cleveland and Darius Garland to Los Angeles, sources tell Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
Harden, a 6’5″ guard, missed his second straight game on Monday due to personal reasons. Head coach Tyronn Lue said the former league MVP was at his home in Phoenix, but he didn’t elaborate further (Twitter link via Joey Linn).
Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports also hears the Cavaliers are trying to acquire Harden, citing league sources who say Cleveland has been interested in the 36-year-old since December, when L.A. was off to a miserable start.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have a “longstanding interest” in two-time All-Star Garland, a 6’1″ guard who has battled injuries in 2025/26. The former No. 5 overall pick, who turned 26 last week, has missed Cleveland’s last eight games with a Grade 1 right great toe sprain.
Garland underwent surgery over the offseason to address a great toe injury on his left foot. He missed the first eight games of ’25/26 while recovering from that surgery, then re-injured his left big toe in November, causing him to miss another five games (eight if you include not playing both ends of back-to-backs).
Shams Charania of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that the Clippers and Harden are working together to find the three-time scoring champion a new team before Thursday’s deadline.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on SportsCenter earlier on Monday (YouTube link) that the Cavaliers were considering making a major trade, and this would certainly qualify. While they’ve played better recently, the Cavs have fallen short of expectations this season in part due to injuries, currently holding a 30-21 record after going 64-18 last year.
Although the Cavs are the only NBA team over the second tax apron, a straight-up swap of Garland ($39.45MM) for Harden ($39.18MM) would be legal because Garland makes slightly more money. The Clips also have enough space to take on Garland’s extra salary, tweets cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), Harden has an implied no-trade clause after signing a one-plus-one deal (one-year contract with a player option in year two) to re-sign with Los Angeles last summer. He also has a 15% trade kicker.
Only $13.32MM of Harden’s $42.32MM salary for next season is guaranteed. But he also could turn that player option down in lieu of a new contract. If Harden agrees to be traded and turns down his option, he would lose his Bird rights, per Gozlan (Twitter link), but his salary for this season is still large enough that he could get a major payday using Non-Bird rights.
Garland, meanwhile, is in the third season of a five-year, rookie scale max extension. He will earn a guaranteed $42.16MM in ’26/27 and $44.89MM in ’27/28.
As Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal writes, rival teams have gotten the impression Garland prefers to be a team’s primary ball-handler, rather than acting in a both on- and off-ball role alongside Donovan Mitchell. There have long been questions about Garland’s fit next to Mitchell, as both are point guard-sized and neither is a great defender, though Mitchell at least has the strength to guard up a spot or two.
Harden has averaged 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals on .419/.347/.901 shooting in 44 games this season (35.3 minutes per contest). Garland has made 26 appearances (30.5 MPG), averaging 18.0 PPG, 6.9 APG and 2.4 RPG on .451/.360/.861 shooting
Ummm wtf??
Why?
This is an insane proposal… is that why Harden is out for personal reasons?
Shams just dropped news saying that Harden is looking for a trade from the Clippers so he wants out
Are the Cavs trying to give Lebron a homecoming roster? Might as well grab Westbrook and CP3 too smh
I hear Carmelo could be coaxed out of banana boat retirement too!
And these are the days of our lives…
I understand the Cavs want to take playmaking pressure off Mitchell, but Harden is absolutely not the answer.
Harden is still a fantastic player with lots to offer.
Giannis: 2.7 VORP in 30 games
Jimmy Butler: 2.3 VORP in 38 games
Steph Curry: 2.3 VORP in 39 games
James Harden: 2.2 VORP in 44 games
Jalen Brunson: 1.9 VORP in 44 games
He can score and facilitate, however he’s inefficient, turnover prone and a turnstile defensively. Basically Trae Young but much older and slower.
Not sure how much more sample size people need to see to figure it out.
And healthy right now, so if Cleveland is adamant about going for it this year that would certainly be a big boost vs a guy with recurring toe injuries.
Would be a great trade for both teams!
Clippers get 10 years younger. Selling high on a 35-year old All-Star, bringing in a 26-year old borderline All-Star (when healthy).
Cavs eliminate the undersized backcourt and dump long-term money. Harden is only 13M guaranteed next season.
Ironically enough Garland should have been All-NBA over Harden last year.
Don’t really think it helps Cavs on D, but it is a very intriguing scenario. What the hell does James Harden want? He’s never satisfied. This is what sounds like when dubs cry.
Harden is actually an upgrade on defense and offense from Garland. I just don’t get what happened between Harden and the Clippers and how the Cavs are interested in having a 36 year old Harden join them.
I don’t think this is Harden. I think this is the Clippers selling high and getting younger to look to the future.
He’ll never accept an under market deal. And he’s all Cali, all day.
This is so out of the blue since harden has not said anything but because it’s harden I can’t be surprised with him souring on his teams so quickly
Garland is hurt a lot, and there’s a lot of really good guards in the league. But Harden is old AF to be making this trade. I wouldn’t unless I’m also getting draft capital.
Harden is avg 25.6 PPG this year, kind of interesting wrinkle to his value.
Agree with that you on the picks. Harden cannot have too much left of his career. Maybe good idea for Clips to trade their picks before the league punishes them and strips picks for their dealings with Uncle Dennis.
No way Clippers give up picks in this trade. If anything they’re getting something.
Harden is 36.5 years old! The Clippers get way younger and shed their picks before they get shed by the league. They actually only have the bad end of swapped 1st rd picks in 26, 27, 29. After that they own their own in 30, 31, 32. But can they even trade those?
Since harden has not talked about anything bad about the clippers but suddenly wants out, I bet he knows the clippers are going to get destroyed by the league because of Uncle Dennis so now he wants out
Clippers are 17-4 in their last 21 games. They have finally gotten things together and are playing well. *Now* Harden wants out? Pretty silly.
It’s James Effing Harden. He ALWAYS WANTS OUT!!!
This is the Clippers decision.
It sounds like Harden wants out and the Clippers are OK with that and are obliging. Highly doubt the Clippers are just doing this without him knowing.
This is exactly how the Clips work. They did this to Blake Griffin and CP3 the first time around. Harden had no reason to want a trade. They were winning and he was the guy. This is the Clippers waiving the white flag on this team.
“This is the Clippers waiving the white flag on this team.”
That seems like the opposite of what is happening, lmao. The time to waive the white flag would’ve been a month ago. Since then they’ve clawed their way back into the playoffs and are one of the hottest teams in the league.
Harden has now missed the last two games for ‘personal reasons’ and he’d need to approve a trade. Harden is forcing the Clippers hand, just like he’s done numerous times before.
Gotta cash in on his 15% trade kicker
If straight up trade,
My grade
Clippers get A
Cavs get C
That is very generous to the cavs
Huh? This can’t be real.
Clippers are the hottest team in the nba, so why?
2 words Uncle Dennis
Three words: Dis Funk Shunal
I wonder if cp3 was more a fall guy and the group is still messed up or if harden knows the clippers are getting punished and wants to get out before the season is lost. Cause it seems garland may need more surgery or lots of rest to get right.
It has been obvious for a while that the Clippers would be active but this isn’t what I expected.
Harden is playing really really well and Cavs are lowkey desperate to be better so I understand that but bro is 36 years old.
I said a bunch of times Garland for MPJ makes sense. MPJ same timeline as Spida, happy to play off ball and offers that shooting they could do with.
From a clippers perspective I mean this is excellent. He’s only 26, he wants to be the primary playmaker. You’ve just locked up your new point guard for the next however many years. Does this open up a fire sale in LA?
Kawhi only has 2 years left on his deal. Zubac is on an expiring.
That doesn’t help the Nets, so speaking for the Nets, that’s a no thnx.
Well, I’ve been saying for a while to watch Zubac to the Celts. That would be about the most Celtics deal ever.
Harden has zero heart and no leadership. I hope they don’t make that trade. Just sick with what you have so far.
They make this year them i think LBJ will be coming back next year. They’ll expect Harden to opt out for a multi-year deal and they reuse that money for LBJ next year.
WTF the CAVS are doing …… Harden still effective, but he’s old and he shrinks during the playoffs – they actually expect to contend with Harden?!