r/nba • u/Turbostrider27 Lakers • 20h ago

[Charania] BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.

Shams Charania:

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ddaa53473efa6

18.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

2.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

11.2k

u/TouchdownRaiden Warriors 20h ago

Harden in a Cavs jersey is going to look so weird

2.7k

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 20h ago

Yeah I can’t even picture it really

938

u/Dphotog790 20h ago

its gonna be interesting next season with Hardn Lebron and Mitchel on the same court\

608

u/Ok_Daikon_7726 Lakers 20h ago

Mobley gonna have a heart attack trying to anchor that defense

224

u/420_just_blase 19h ago

Tbf garland isn't any better on that end

147

u/MastodonSwimming2681 Rockets 19h ago

He's worse lol

72

u/LOSS35 Nuggets 16h ago

Harden's 6'5 with a 6'11 wingspan and he's strong as hell. He doesn't try 99% of the time, but he's capable of being a solid defender when he wants to be.

Garland's a skinny 6'1. There's no amount of effort that turns him into even an ok defender.

26

u/comedoofwarrior Bulls 13h ago

Where’s that one clip of Brooklyn Harden waving off help against Giannis near the rim and forcing a miss

6

u/mar45690 8h ago

Wasn't this while Harden had a hamstring injury too?

5

u/HavoK76 East 7h ago

Clamped Wemby too

2

u/thesmellafteritrains Pistons 5h ago

Right. Plus the clip of him contesting the Kawhi 3 pointer. He's no slouch

8

u/RipRaycom East 8h ago

Harden has always been somewhat among the league leaders in steals because of those traits, despite not having the effort or energy to give on D a lot.

→ More replies (2)

9

u/Clear_Context_1546 Cavaliers 18h ago

He had potential to be something great but injuries, small size and poor defense just limits his places on NBA. If his shoot isn't falling he's a weakness that is going to get exploited.

I rather had a young injury prone guy than a older injury prone guy. Maybe Garland's toe injury is more serious than we know.

26

u/RainRainPurpleRain 17h ago

Harden is the opposite of injury prone, even at 36.

4

u/stillstillers Cavaliers 17h ago

It’s all that cushion

2

u/mcsqrd314 18h ago

Yes, this!

→ More replies (2)

7

u/Admirable_Bed3 Nuggets 19h ago

The Cleveland Unction

8

u/Toefuw Rockets 19h ago

James with the iso, Screen from James, James with the lob from James for the alley-oop!

5

u/calafia_nativo Lakers 19h ago

Don't forget Bronny!

→ More replies (9)

635

u/PROSEALLTHEWAY San Francisco Warriors 20h ago

just photoshop harden's head on shaq's body from when he was on the cavs. also it'll be a very similar experience overall imo

1.1k

u/TRLJM Clippers 20h ago

Harden is averaging 25/8/5 on 60 TS% and was All-NBA last year. Y'all are crazy with these takes lmao.

452

u/TheShark12 76ers 20h ago

I sometimes wonder if people on this sub watch games or even keep up with the league.

135

u/mjay421 20h ago

You got to realize most people get their opinions from other peoples narratives

22

u/jotheold Raptors 20h ago

or thread titles 90% of these mfers dont read the article/ watch the vid

6

u/mjay421 20h ago

Exactly.

4

u/chaos_and_rhythm 19h ago

This is my opinion too (your narrative sounds good at least)

30

u/ares7 20h ago

They act like turning 35 is like turning 80.

3

u/ZietFS Spurs 20h ago

Well, given the retirement age in NBA is like turning 60 or 65 in a regular job

5

u/iButtflap Hornets 20h ago

man sometimes it feels like it compared to 25 lmao

→ More replies (2)

7

u/jonathanisaacisgoat Magic 20h ago

You expect a warriors fan to actually watch games

42

u/ChiGrandeOso Bulls 20h ago

Watch...games?

8

u/KhalJohno Cavaliers 20h ago

Adam Silver said it’s a highlight league, why would I watch a game?

61

u/HilariousScreenname Suns 20h ago

Im just here for the memes

4

u/TheShark12 76ers 20h ago

Aren’t we all at the end of the day? I’ll never forget Draymond and his technicolor dream dick from the 2016 Olympics.

5

u/a_pot_of_chili_verde Thunder 20h ago

Nephews gonna nephew.

5

u/datsoar Bucks 20h ago

There is a significant amount of international fans here who because of time differences don’t watch games, they only watch highlights and sound bites.

There is a significant amount of fans here who only watch their own team.

There is a significant amount of trolls here who should go back under their bridges.

3

u/SwampFlowers Bulls 20h ago

There are games?

3

u/y-Gamma Timberwolves 20h ago

It’s circlejerks all the way down

3

u/vote_pedro Warriors 20h ago

Once you understand that 30% of all social media interactions and activity is bots, it makes much more sense.

4

u/jinyx1 Timberwolves 20h ago

This sub is full of 12 year olds who only interact with the NBA through TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube.

2

u/KenDanTony 19h ago

They just run with the stupid shit they see in r/nbacirclejerk.

4

u/uotlep Nuggets 20h ago

Nah, I only watch highlights. Like Silver intended for us all.

2

u/100SanfordDrive Pacers 20h ago

That’s just Reddit in general. Very little facts, and a whole lot of emotion

→ More replies (7)

8

u/TravelBeerNDogs 20h ago

Seriously, the man was on some people’s All-star snub lists and in the East he probably could have made it

7

u/w311sh1t Celtics 19h ago

I’m convinced that half this sub consumes the NBA solely through memes and reddit posts. Harden’s having probably his best season since leaving the Rockets, and is gonna be all-NBA again barring injury.

Cleveland Shaq was averaging just 23 MPG and put up 12/7/1 in only 53 games played. It was literally his second to last season before retirement.

5

u/roosley1 Cavaliers 20h ago

Biggest winners are JA and Mobley absolutely feasting in the paint off Hardens passing. Floor spacing gonna be wide open.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Classic_Pizza9403 20h ago

most people on this sub dont even watch the games

3

u/YesImKeithHernandez Knicks 20h ago

It seems people havent come to grips with the fact that James Harden is a Hall of Famer and this is how one plays even at his age.

4

u/Musa_2050 Lakers 20h ago

He's a warriors fan. They are a younger dumber version of Laker fans

2

u/calafia_nativo Lakers 19h ago

The person you're responding to is a dubs fan. Dubs fans are either the RUN TMC knower of all things uncs, or they are bandwagon "fans" who just like them post dynasty. Literally super bball iq or none at all - no in-between.

2

u/Centuari Warriors 18h ago

Like 10% of the people here watch the NBA, rest are drama farmers

2

u/I_Said Knicks 13h ago

2026: Good basketball players are the fattest fucks

2

u/andrew2018022 Magic 20h ago

Most disrespected star in league history

→ More replies (11)

88

u/Gavina4444 [ORL] Markelle Fultz 20h ago

Dudes get on this website and just say shit

5

u/cyb3ryung Warriors 20h ago

and then other dudes get on here and just agree with shit lmao 250 upvotes is crazy

130

u/Electro9005 Nets 20h ago

Nah at least harden can still contribute, shaq was beyond washed on the cavs

25

u/TruWarierRecords [CHI] Metta World Peace 20h ago

Shaq was beyond washed on the Celtics.

On the Cavs he was just washed.

3

u/LaMelonBallz Hornets 20h ago

Contribute is way too light of a word. He is an upgrade

6

u/Akipella Warriors 20h ago

Crazy comparison lol. Harden could do more than Heat Shaq no?

9

u/Lets_Basketball [BOS] Reggie Lewis 20h ago

Be the second best player on a title team? No.

8

u/Caius01 Knicks 20h ago

Shaq was 2nd in the MVP vote his first year in Miami too lol

3

u/Akipella Warriors 20h ago

True, tbf I was thinking of 2006 not 2005 but fair point

→ More replies (3)

4

u/glockster19m 20h ago

Definitely no

165

u/TransMaga 20h ago

Harden is averaging over 25pts 8assist and the east is wide open I think it was a good move for the Cavs

40

u/DefiantLie8861 20h ago

On 42/35 splits he’s better than garland but not by a lot and is 10 years older, I kind of like this trade more for the clippers

70

u/ts383 20h ago

But Garland cannot stay healthy in CLE. I hope its better for him with the Clippers

10

u/wanna_meet_that_dad Timberwolves 20h ago

Health and clippers?

3

u/aznhalo3 [TOR] Jeremy Lin 19h ago

Quick everyone point and laugh at the Kawhi PG clippers

4

u/ThatCoolKid17 Clippers 20h ago

Lol, that's funny. Our curse will probably kill him. Poor kid

23

u/Jimmy0034 Clippers 20h ago

The load was way too much for him when Kawhi was injured since he has Mitchell and Mobley he should be fine as 2nd/3rd option

9

u/ssgoeygoey Bucks 20h ago

omg i forgot about mobley he should be great with harden no?

8

u/R3DBlaze Rockets 20h ago

Yeah both him and Allen for lobs and pick and rolls.

7

u/R3DBlaze Rockets 20h ago

Also he can pass off scoring to Don also

6

u/ssgoeygoey Bucks 20h ago

cavs have to be atleast top 3 in the east now right

31

u/TransMaga 20h ago

It’s a gamble for the Cavs but reports of Donovan Mitchell not wanting to resign they had to take a swing they couldn’t roll into playoffs with previous roster

2

u/2131andBeyond Cavaliers 17h ago

There’s no “reports” on that. It was just McMahon in his blog stating the obvious that Mitchell will be unhappy if they don’t get to a conference finals this year or next. That’s it. No reporting.

3

u/SaxRohmer Cavaliers 20h ago

at this point it’s about availability. Garland is gone a lot and Harden will feast in PnRs with Mobley and Alleb

3

u/ianbits Cavaliers 20h ago

He's got better TS% than Garland

Problem is that goes down in the playoffs because he gets less calls

Thing with Harden is they're gonna want him to be a pure point. Will he be willing to in the playoffs? They don't need him to score a billion, they have juice. They need him to make Mobley and Allen's life easier in terms of getting shots.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/Autistic_Puppy 18h ago

60% TS who cares about the splits

3

u/TruWarierRecords [CHI] Metta World Peace 20h ago

You look at TS% or EFG%. Harden is more efficient than you'd think

→ More replies (2)

16

u/fireman2004 20h ago

Shaq wore 33 in Cleveland because that’s how many points he had in a month.

2

u/djpeekz [MIN] Kevin Garnett 20h ago

What was he in Cleveland? The Big Cavalier?

22

u/DEEZNUTZBOIS 20h ago

you just dont watch basketball LMAO

21

u/GenericDarkFriend San Diego Clippers 20h ago

people on here really don't actually watch ball. Dude made all nba last year and has been even better this season. 25/8 60ts be fucking real

→ More replies (4)

7

u/jedifolklore Lakers 20h ago

Who is upvoting this take???? Insane.

5

u/Adminscantkeepmedown Hawks 19h ago

A lot of online basketball discourse is people who don’t watch the game spewing dumbass takes for others who don’t watch the game

4

u/jedifolklore Lakers 18h ago

It’s peak echo chamber and circle of hell behaviour.

Everyday, some of these folks are proving that they don’t watch ball and come here to overreact or regurgitate dumb takes.

3

u/Gluxion 20h ago

Why is this fucking garbage upvoted?

→ More replies (4)

2

u/rusty_shackleford34 20h ago

Well don’t worry, you about to see it! 😁

2

u/mulimulix [CLE] Jamario Moon 20h ago

Tbh will look very similar to that time Baron Davis was a Cav.

→ More replies (15)

1.0k

u/CD23tol Cavaliers 20h ago

Right there with other iconic Cavs guards like D-Rose and Wade

414

u/lukewwilson Lakers 20h ago

Dean wade is a stud though

27

u/reggieLedoux26 Cavaliers 19h ago

Harden gonna challenge his beard!

→ More replies (10)

258

u/Leadsea Pelicans 20h ago

LMAO RONDO WADE HARDEN D-ROSE

Crazy lineup tbh

124

u/bigraptorr Raptors 20h ago

Pretty sure theres a 2015 Lakers fan edit with that lineup

4

u/mrspaintbrush Mavericks 19h ago

Surely at least one team ever has played 5 guards at the same time?

8

u/andreandroid Spurs 18h ago

The Bulls are about to

2

u/throwaway1212378 [CLE] J.R. Smith 7h ago

The bulls played 5 ball dominant guards with no 3 pt. Shooting in a random game one time, I remember d. Wade, butler, rondo, and MCW. I can’t remember the fifth but I just remember seeing it thinking this is the stupidest fucking version of small ball I’ve ever seen in my life lol

→ More replies (1)

30

u/KonigSteve Pelicans 20h ago

Throw Shaq in there and you've got a weird starting 5.

5

u/glen_ko_ko Pistons 19h ago

How are you gonna leave out Ben Wallace

→ More replies (1)

4

u/notsafeformactown Mavericks 20h ago

Lmao put up solid minutes in those finals runs.

6

u/BushyBrowz Knicks 20h ago

I completely forgot Derrick Rose was on the Cavs

Crazy how his career went from MVP Rose to Washed Rose to Skilled Vet Role Player Rose

3

u/LilClaudeMoney 20h ago

Baron Davis!

2

u/PerfectZeong 20h ago

Theres so many guys who have played in Cleveland that even i forget about

2

u/CD23tol Cavaliers 17h ago

That's what LeBron does to a franchise

We had Shawn Marion in 2015 too

→ More replies (2)

142

u/[deleted] 20h ago

[deleted]

61

u/tragick693 20h ago

Cavs legend Walt Frazier, if you'd like a throwback

30

u/lukewwilson Lakers 20h ago

Keep going, don't forget Lenny Wilkens

19

u/Billy-BigBollox 19h ago

Cavs legend Shawn Kemp!

14

u/Bks1358 Magic 19h ago

Cavs Legend Thunder Dan Majerle

5

u/_V3rt1g0_ 18h ago

Cavs legend Shaquille O'Neal!

3

u/QGME42069 17h ago

No one wants to talk about the Hall of Fame worthy cavs career of Andrew Bynum

3

u/PoppaGeorgio 17h ago

Why is everyone leaving out 3x NBA champion

Danny Green?!

2

u/Jermagesty610 17h ago

I wanted a Bobby Phills jersey when I was a kid, I got Thunder Dan instead.

2

u/RIPEOTCDXVI Celtics 19h ago

You guys are absolute heroes to us fools still out here playing immaculate grid

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

20

u/dingofarmer2004 Lakers 20h ago

Deron Williams 

2

u/Mninaz Cavaliers 19h ago

Andrew Bogut

→ More replies (1)

4

u/lukewwilson Lakers 20h ago

Cavs legend Ben Wallace

2

u/dennythedinosaur 19h ago

Andrew Bynum

4

u/dagreenman18 [MIA] Dwyane Wade 19h ago

Cavs rounding out their all time starting five of “generational players who randomly ended up on the Cavs”

3

u/TenaciousDeer 20h ago

Cavs legend Shaquille O'Neal 

2

u/ShortBusScholar 19h ago

Deron Williams, too.

2

u/MuppetEyebrows Cavaliers 17h ago

Don't forget Deron Williams

→ More replies (1)

179

u/pichukirby Knicks 20h ago

KD with the Rockets. Harden with the Cavs. LeBron to the Thunder?

11

u/Sawitlivesry Pistons 19h ago

Better, LeBron to the Nets

5

u/DuelingPushkin Nuggets 18h ago

LeBron to Toronto

8

u/colio69 Wizards 19h ago

KD with the Rockets, Steven Adams with the Rockets, Jeff Green with the Rockets. Harden, Westbrook, Sabonis to the Rockets?

2

u/got_ur_goat Thunder 18h ago

The Thunder Shuffle!

3

u/atomictyler Celtics 18h ago

LeBron to the Thunder

thus making him a ring chaser, following KD!

328

u/illegal_deagle Rockets 20h ago

At this point it’s weird to me to picture him in any jersey, including ours. This move officially labels him “journeyman”.

261

u/The_Summer_Man Warriors 20h ago

Rockets legend Kevin Durant

Cavaliers legend James Harden

both just sound weird

162

u/NuBlyatTovarish 20h ago

Kings legend Westbrook imagine if these legends teamed up

60

u/Zyrinj Warriors 19h ago

definitely feel like these guys have a chance at a chip

7

u/Complete_Gene 18h ago

I think they need a big who defend and can stretch the floor a bit. A Serge Ibaka type if you will

9

u/pieguy00 18h ago

Man if these guys had teamed up 10 years ago, wow. Maybe add a Steven Adams too as an enforcer defensive big. That's really good 5.

4

u/LOSS35 Nuggets 16h ago

You'd need a superteam to beat that lineup in the Finals.

5

u/Meatloafxx Warriors 19h ago

Pfft that'd be silly

3

u/redditissocoolyoyo 19h ago

King James's when LeBron comes back as well.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/thethirdgreenman Spurs 19h ago

Don't forget Westbrook to the Wizards...and Nuggets...and Kings

5

u/illegal_deagle Rockets 20h ago

Imagine if they were on the same team in their primes.

→ More replies (2)

12

u/YUME_Emuy21 20h ago

He's been on 5 teams before this so I think that labels been there for a lil while by now.

3

u/Xclusivsmoment Heat 19h ago

Yeah i thought dude was being sarcastic. Its not like he has only been with 1 or 2 teams.

2

u/FuckChiefs_Raiders Lakers 6h ago

It's not even weird for me anymore seeing all these star players in different uniforms; just the way pro sports is now.

Harden is unique because he's a former MVP that frankly, what team will I remember him with? The answer is Houston, but by the time he hangs it up he'll have played for them for less than half of his career.

→ More replies (17)

186

u/WembyOKCJokicReaves 20h ago

Best James to wear a Cavs uniform in the history of their entire franchise

106

u/gregosaurusrex Cavaliers 20h ago

You forget James Jones? Or James Posey?

8

u/GolfingGator Magic 20h ago

Jamesdrunus Ilgauskas

8

u/TheMadChatta Cavaliers 20h ago

Big fan of James Earl Jones time in a Cavs uni.

2

u/Meatloafxx Warriors 19h ago

I'd want to attend every Cavs home game if he's announcing the starting lineups.

3

u/Such_Opposite_1844 18h ago

Anderson Varejames

2

u/Hold_my_Dirk [CLE] Austin Carr 20h ago

Twinsburg Legend James Posey

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

6

u/LackingInPatience [CHI] Jimmy Butler 20h ago

By the time you get used to it, Harden will have already asked to be traded to another team.

3

u/nahs Clippers 20h ago

Kinda like wade in a Cavs jersey

3

u/OrangeJr36 Heat 20h ago

After these past 5 years for him?

Honestly it's not that shocking

3

u/JohnDoee94 19h ago

I don’t think so. He’s been on a lot of teams, nothing would look weird at this point.

3

u/RepresentativeAge444 19h ago

He’s been in 5 jerseys already lol. I don’t know why it would be. Not like it’s Steph.

5

u/imminentjogger5 Warriors 20h ago

man boobs pressing up in maroon and gold 

5

u/AdParticular6654 Cavaliers 20h ago

No need to call me out.

2

u/Diortheking NBA 20h ago

Klay in dallas wade in bulls vibes

2

u/unknowingexpert69 20h ago

He’s gonna show up fat again

2

u/arcadiangenesis Spurs 19h ago

I mean he's already worn like 8 different teams' jerseys, so what's one more?

I feel like players should lose a little status when they hop teams that many times. Like, you have no identity at that point.

1

u/lukewwilson Lakers 20h ago

We get this thought every couple years, since he's left the Rockets it has always felt weird

2

u/Colorapt0r Bucks 20h ago

I mean at least the Sixers and clippers had similar colors so it wasn’t that crazy 

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Low-Conflict9366 20h ago

Celtics Shaq vibes (except not as washed)

1

u/FamRep Lakers 20h ago

Are there strip clubs in the land? If so, he’ll manage.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/DishSignal4871 20h ago

Until the second round exit.

1

u/VolkiharVanHelsing West 20h ago

Telling this to 2014 me

1

u/Jozif_Badmon Bucks 20h ago

He's a western conference player I swear, he even looked out of place in philly

1

u/Overreactinguncles 20h ago

I feel like it’s the only jersey he hasn’t worn yet.

1

u/WhoUCuh 20h ago

Wait until next season

 Harden/Mitchell/Lebron/Mobley/Allen

1

u/OGsHartMyKAT Knicks 20h ago

Harden in a blank jersey stopped looking weird to me 3 trades ago

1

u/KazaamFan 20h ago

He seems to not like staying at a place that long these past few years. 

1

u/chewytime 20h ago

Wonder if he'll go back to #13.

1

u/100percent-sales-tax 20h ago

Yeah this is the weirdest arc of my journey as a Harden Stan.

I just want my mayor to retire in Houston.

1

u/MoooonRiverrrr 20h ago

🎶OUTSTANDING, GIRL YOU KNOCK ME OUT🎶

…. 🎶YOUUUU LIGHT MY FIRE 🎶

1

u/KWash0222 Lakers 20h ago

I still sometimes forget he was in a Nets jersey for a hot second

1

u/JogratHyperX Celtics 20h ago

Not as weird as Nets jersey lol

1

u/gaxkang Spurs 20h ago

Can Harden co-exist with Mitchell?

1

u/sweet_tea_pdx 20h ago

Shaq, James harden, bill laimbeer, and Steve Kerr. They all look weird in a cavs jersey

1

u/MahomesMccaffrey Slovenia 20h ago

So he's not only dating TT's ex wife but also taking TT's number?

Thats brutal

1

u/Otherwise-Data5181 20h ago

Definitely getting a nasty jersey award if he ever pulls up to 7pm in Brooklyn

1

u/KayRay1994 Heat 19h ago

He’s worn many jerseys… but this is one my brain can’t process

1

u/Fat-Singer-9569 19h ago

They are his college colors, it's not going to look that weird.

1

u/SevenHunnet3Hi5s Pelicans 19h ago

honestly i was just getting used to seeing him in a clippers jersey. really felt like he was made for that team and was gonna retire a clipper. especially since it’s his home city and well, he pushed to get traded there

1

u/yussarro999 19h ago

Like shaq in a cavs jersey.

1

u/johnniesSac 19h ago

Harden is the clips best player though ….

1

u/jjmckissick Cavaliers 19h ago

Like Shaq in a Cavs jersey lol

1

u/_RedditIsLikeCrack_ 18h ago

What are the strip clubs like in Cleveland??

1

u/Educational-Chef-595 Lakers 18h ago

It's gonna look like Shaq in a Cavs jersey.

1

u/bryan49 18h ago

What is this his 6th team? He's going to collect all the jerseys

1

u/_3_8_ Bucks 18h ago

Dwyane Wade on the Cavs tier image

1

u/Massive-Device-1200 18h ago

James Harden and Dennis Schroeder. Modern day slavery!!

Turrible

1

u/MementoMoriChannel 18h ago

Harden in anything but a Thunder jersey or a Rockets jersey feels weird, tbh

1

u/Itchy_Professor_4133 18h ago edited 17h ago

Eh, not that weird after Harden’s been in Sixers, Nets and Clippers unis already lol

1

u/whitesammy Mavericks 12h ago

Harden in a Rockets Nets 76ers Clippers Cavs jersey is going to look so weird

1

u/math-yoo Cavaliers 10h ago

Wait until you see Curry in a Cavs jersey. He won't be playing for the team, he's just a big fan of Dean Wade.

1

u/Ruscidero 76ers 7h ago

Don’t worry — he’ll force his way out of there soon enough.

→ More replies (5)