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 below their hard cap to take on Garland’s extra salary, tweets cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), Harden has an implicit 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, though he likely wouldn’t receive the full amount of that bonus if he’s dealt to the Cavs due to the team’s cap situation.
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, notes 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!
Cleveland Retirees! New logo, LeBron with a walker. I wish LeBron would demand a trade to Cleveland just to get him out of LA. The Lakers have been miserable to root for ever since he arrived.
Nobody cares about the bubble chip. They earned it, but nobody cares. Can Pelinka trade himself while we’re at it? I have to assume Walter will get a real GM this summer.
“Hmm we should sign Ayton because he’s tall and was drafted 1 overall, perfect fit.” — Pelinka logic
That run to the WCF was actually pretty fun to root for since it came out of nowhere but they had no answer for Jokic so it was a moot point.
Please do this Cleveland cmon we need the memes
Harden, Mitchell, Lebron, Mobley and Allen sounds good.
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.
“Who needs defense when you just need to out score your opponent” – Mike D Antoni somewhere probably
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.
Have you tried out scoring your opponent instead of playing defense?
“What the hell does James Harden want? He’s never satisfied”. to put it simple, James Harden wants to win. He never should be satisfied until he gets that ring.
If you think the reason Harden keeps demanding a trade is because he wants to win you are sorely mistaken.
The reason is always $$$$$$$$$$
I mean, you answered your own question. It’s about money. He wants to maximize every dollar. He isn’t concerned about legacy, continuity, winning championships. It’s about the next contract and making sure he continues to get it.
If anything I respect that he’s willing to call teams on their BS the moment he gets the sense they’re going to lowball him. He values his bird rights more than any player in the league. He’s making 40M a year well beyond the age people thought he would in part because he has unflinching loyalty to himself.
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
Harden is clearly the problem. This has happened way too many times. I don’t think James has any pattern recognition. Because it’s obviously a pattern that seems to occur on every team he suits up for.
On the contrary, I think this is very calculated by Harden.
The pattern is the same for any professional athlete. He wants his next contract. This is how it was for Jimmy Butler as well. This is how it is for stars who aren’t A-listers, especially in the era of extensions. In an apron environment where teams are more cautious than ever with their $. Players want commitment.
If teams don’t want big names hitting unrestricted free agency and losing them for nothing, it leads to more in-season trades.
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.
Davey he’s shooting 41 percent. He might be getting points but his team would be better off with him going back to 11.5 assists per night.
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
Is Harden capable of being happy? It’s just hilarious how often he has pulled this same stunt. Now he wants to ride the whaaaaambulance to Cleveland and share the ball with Mitchell? Good luck, James. You’re shooting a smidge over 40 percent, it’s been a good run. Enjoy your unhappiness. You’ve been paid over $400,000,000 to be an absolute cancer on every single team you’ve ever played on. But it’s never your fault. 😭
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.
Harden is doing it to them. The Clippers are getting done. And they did it to themselves by bringing him to the team. See the Clippers do not believe in player development or playing by the league rules. They want to buy the best team they can, but in so doing they have screwed themselves. They freaking gave away SGA for a bag of magic beans. They are a collection of clowns.
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?!
Not buying this at all. Harden would not work at all in CLE. I could see very much see him going to TOR however… for Quickley.
WHY ..… OH ……. WHY. …… 😮
36 yr old Harden who doesn’t play D. I guess with Mobley and Allen they can carry him. This deal works for two yrs, maybe. Not a fan of Harden. But this does make some sense for Cavs. Better keep him out of strip clubs.
Clippers finally get a young star to build with.
Don’t the trade kickers count against the receiving team, which would put the incoming value too high for the Cavs since they’re over the 2nd apron? They would need a separate salary dump first to get under the apron, right?
I was wondering that too. Maybe the kicker is just cash paid to the player, not counting toward cap? Otherwise yeah, this trade would be impossible unless Cavs first move enough other salary to get under the second apron.
Garland is not a fit alongside Donovan Mitchell because he is not a strong defender… no problem, we will bring defensive-beast James Harden! LMAO. What a terrible trade for Cleveland that would be.
There’s a money argument though – this move plus resigning Harden at a lower value this summer (or not at all) could be enough to get them under the second apron. Garland’s been injured a lot too, and not just this year.
There is a path for minny to get both giannis and harden. And keep Naz and randle/mcdaniels.
This is so bad foe the cavs, I love it
Leaving aside what the players want, does this deal make either team better? If anything, Cleveland seems more likely to benefit from this than the Clippers, but swapping on-ball guards at this point in the season is definitely a wild card.
I commend the Cavs for realising that they needed to make a change to their core if they were going to contend.
But to think that the key to getting over the hurdle in the play-offs is the most well known choke artist in the NBA is baffling.
This seems to be a bi-annual thing for Harden. When do teams just stop chasing a guy who hasn’t won anything other than individual awards and wants to spend 24 months or less in their town?
Apparently Harden wanted his option fully guaranteed for next year. Clippers said no. Now he wants a trade.
The hold up is Cleveland wants draft picks of some kind. Not sure if that means they are negotiating what it will be or if it is fully a no from the Clippers. Clippers don’t exactly have an abundance of picks at their disposal.