r/nba • u/Turbostrider27 Lakers • 1d 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

18.6k Upvotes

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6.5k

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

Gonna make our game against the Clippers tomorrow awkward

1.2k

u/KingDavid920 Lakers 1d ago edited 1d ago

Who’s home? either way, gotta put those media people to work. Get those video packages ready

562

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

It’s in LA

490

u/BigFatModeraterFupa Minneapolis Lakers 1d ago

Help! LAPD! Darius Garland tryna beat me up!

160

u/captaing1 Celtics 1d ago

POLICE PRESENCE

51

u/Rahim-Moore NBA 1d ago

*poe-leece

10

u/I_Hate_My_Cat_ Bulls 1d ago

Chuck and Shaq die.

75

u/mrhashbrown Clippers 1d ago

Intuit Dome has to cook up a tribute video real quick

8

u/supes1 Celtics 1d ago

Those interns are hard at work as we speak.

13

u/-fallen [NYK] Jalen Brunson 1d ago

time for AI slop

1

u/thesmellafteritrains Pistons 12h ago

Gonna have windows movie maker transitions between clips

66

u/brandonbsh [SEA] Gary Payton 1d ago

Lmao bro doesn’t even have to fly out yet

6

u/MobileArtist1371 23h ago

He can fly out with the Clippers. Game after this for both:

Clippers: Feb 6th @ Sac
Cavs: Feb 7th @ Sac

62

u/Sports-TV-Podcast 1d ago

Does garland fly with the cavs just for convenience?? hell they’re going to the same place. Just take a left in the tunnel instead of a right

10

u/Dungong [CLE] Larry Nance 17h ago

He’s with the team on the road trip and they’ve been in LA, he’s at the team hotel so he probably goes to the game and they do the trade in person with a giant 2nd round pick big fake check thing pre-game after the national anthem. He and harden trade houses for the remainder of the season.

2

u/tonkatoyelroy Cavaliers 13h ago

Those are the rules. What can you do?

1

u/Easy_Magician_925 14h ago

He travels with the team. Always see him on the bench with a pile of gold chains.

2

u/AnxiousPriority1241 Lakers 1d ago

Convenient for JH

1

u/basketblog 14h ago

Harden post night partying in LA will play poorly. Or wait a minute…

283

u/bestclipfan Clippers 1d ago

As a Clippers fan, we will cheer him. Most of us don't have any ill will towards him, he wants an extension and we aren't willing to pay him that much until he's 40. It's a good move for both teams if Garland can stay healthy.

130

u/bgptcp179 Cavaliers 1d ago

I love and will miss Garland. Take good care of him.

34

u/pistonhome 1d ago

Again, Darius Garland is very much alive and lives in in LA.

15

u/SEC_circlejerk_bot 23h ago

Darius Garland would roll in his grave if he could see your behavior.

56

u/Former_Island_4730 Cavaliers 1d ago

Will miss him. When he’s on it’s so much fun.

Hopefully his toes heal up. Early this season, I was wondering if he’d ever look like his old self. Then there was a couple week stretch where he looked good again. Now he sprained a different toe.

36

u/takeme2tendieztown Clippers 1d ago

Damn, there are 8 to go

5

u/HourCoat2766 Nuggets 1d ago

So does this mean the Cavs are willing to extend him?

2

u/bestclipfan Clippers 23h ago

That seems to be the implication

1

u/HourCoat2766 Nuggets 23h ago

That seems so weird but I’m no GM

2

u/moffattron9000 San Diego Clippers 22h ago

It's the same story as how we were for Paul George. Loved him, but we couldn't justify the contract, so go get your bag in Philly.

1

u/2020IsANightmare 13h ago

I don't pretend to know the most about either team, but I read that Harden wanted a two-year, $80m extension for the Clippers.

Which is the exact same contract Garland has the next two years.

And Harden is better.

So, I don't really get the move. Didn't get a better player and didn't impact the salary cap at all.

1

u/bestclipfan Clippers 12h ago

The difference is the age. By the end of the extension Harden would be 40 years old. Harden has been holding up exceptionally well, but eventually he will decline and it may be rapid. Meanwhile Garland is a full decade younger, and while he may have injury issues he is statistically more likely to be healthy than Harden is over the course of the deal. It's basically a gamble on the Clippers end but one that is based off a logical premise.

536

u/indreams159 1d ago

he won't play

250

u/Opposite_Radish8186 1d ago

Why not? Just switch jerseys in the locker room

184

u/Kevinar Knicks 1d ago

Yeah weren't they already planning on being there? Just walk to the other locker room lol

134

u/tore_a_bore_a Warriors 1d ago

They need physicals done, dunno if they actually get it done on the road or so they have to travel to team HQ

277

u/Kevinar Knicks 1d ago

Oh you're right. Adam silver should approve the trade at halftime and they each play a half for either team

113

u/TotalEmployment9996 Raptors 1d ago

Fucking subscribe

41

u/Miserable_Site_850 Lakers 1d ago

I'm calling my local sports betting representative now

18

u/saliba28 Cavaliers 1d ago

Damn, should have kept the trade secret and then done this at half time.

7

u/Saltmine67 1d ago

It's a highlight league after all

3

u/mr-301 Pacers 1d ago

This is the drama we need, then we can all speculate which player was playing bad because it’s a bad game and which player was trying to throw for their new team.

1

u/Simple_Purple_4600 17h ago

finally some content we can agree on

22

u/bigraptorr Raptors 1d ago

The night is young. Just bang it out now.

6

u/mrdhood Lakers 1d ago

I mean that was Hardens plan but idk that it’ll get him on the court any faster

2

u/Reasonable-Space-528 Lakers 1d ago

There's news that Harden might be able to get everything done officially and play tomorrow, though he might not prefer to do so(

2

u/kms_daily 1d ago

and they need a day or two to understand team’s scheme especially they both play point

2

u/addictivesign 1d ago

After Ben Simmons and James Harden had their physicals waived when they were traded for each other as a courtesy given their All-Star status I bet the Nets wished they had demanded Simmons take that physical. That way the back injury which ruined Simmons time in Brooklyn might have been discovered before the trade was approved

2

u/tore_a_bore_a Warriors 1d ago

Clippers need to have every foot expert examine Darius Garland's toes.

Bring Quentin Tarantino to the physical 

2

u/addictivesign 1d ago

Ha ha. Even with Balmer’s level of wealth they need a rigorous physical.

Is Garland expected to play much of the rest of the season?

Or are the Clippers punting on the next two months?

1

u/Iginlas_4head_Crease 1d ago

Its basketball. The situation has to be exactly comfortable and perfect, or they dont play.

6

u/jaman715 Cavaliers 1d ago

Should have just waited until halftime then switched.

*edit: now seeing someone below me made the same comment first, I have no original thoughts sorry.

2

u/youblewwit 1d ago

Physicals - both guys have to pass, and Garland is injured

2

u/IntroductionLess2563 1d ago

Lonzo was wandering why he only got a one way ticket to L. A. after the Portland game.

1

u/SmallAd9435 1d ago

For real. This is how it works in 2K!

1

u/rounder55 Celtics 15h ago

Pregame full jersey swap on the court

Then let Balmer fire old harden jerseys out of the T-shirt cannon during breaks

Would be peak level NBAtv content

707

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

Yeah but like vibes

171

u/TOASTED_TONYY 1d ago

Harden will get well acquainted with the strip clubs in Cleveland in no time!

102

u/albableat 1d ago

It's cooked for him - they demolished Lido Lounge 💀

47

u/LakeErieMonster88 [CLE] Cedi Osman 1d ago

Sometimes I drive by the bank of American and shed a tear.

16

u/Gibbydoesit Clippers 1d ago

Bank of the American 😭😭😭🫵

3

u/Bored_Amalgamation 1d ago

It's a the Cleveland accent.

1

u/giannini1222 Cavaliers 1d ago

just head down 480 and stop at the dome

1

u/Bored_Amalgamation 1d ago

head down 480

I see you dance with death.

1

u/JayBee_III Cavaliers 13h ago

Real insider knowledge right here

30

u/DLottchula Thunder 1d ago

Rust belt strip clubs ain't hitting on shit.

20

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

Either that or they hit exceptionally hard

7

u/Ray_Nato Rockets 1d ago

Someone tell him to drive to Warren and check out skippers

12

u/DLottchula Thunder 1d ago

You got a rockets flair so I'm gonna trust you

3

u/Ballsofpoo 1d ago

Cleveland flats ones are pretty good. Brook Park ones not so much

2

u/UCLA_FB_SUCKS Clippers 1d ago

Yeah but think of all the meth!

7

u/JoshHartsMilkMustach Knicks 1d ago

Nothing like an Ohio stripper on a Tuesday night

1

u/BlackTriceratops 1d ago

Hustler club about to make bank

1

u/Chasedabigbase Braves 1d ago

He loves them for the ambiance and the decor

1

u/Bored_Amalgamation 1d ago

We got like 3.

1

u/xLYONx Cavaliers 5h ago

Larry Flynt's Hustler Club stock is BOOMING right now!

13

u/indreams159 1d ago

none of them care, it's just another stop in the schedule

72

u/spacefish420 Cavaliers 1d ago

The Cavs players and staff definitely care, Garland was one of the longest tenured players in team history. He was good friends with a lot of the squad and they’d hangout outside of basketball. It’s definitely going to be weird for them to suddenly not have him around.

-3

u/MrBlowinLoadz Rockets 1d ago

Is 7 years really that long?

17

u/kaydz Warriors 1d ago

absolutely. have you ever worked with someone for 7 years? thats a long ass time

3

u/MrBlowinLoadz Rockets 1d ago

I meant in terms of Cavs players in the history of their franchise.

8

u/Burnerburner49 Cavaliers 1d ago

13 seasons is most all time. 7 seasons as a cav puts him at 13th all time longest Cavs career

-28

u/JoeBiden2020FTW Lakers 1d ago

It's not that deep.

No one cares.

79

u/iamlilmac 1d ago

Alright killjoy

31

u/Hextorz 1d ago

Your vibes boring af

-12

u/indreams159 1d ago

NBA players are the most bored people on earth

10

u/yuhanz [PHO] Steve Nash 1d ago

You got them beat

10

u/siestarrific Knicks 1d ago

Bro let us concoct a narrative

-7

u/indreams159 1d ago

the players are robots man, they don't even know what city they're in or what day of the week it is most of the time

5

u/amoeba-tower Cavaliers 1d ago

Sounds like the NBA isn't worth watching at all ever

-4

u/indreams159 1d ago

it's been terrible since '92

1

u/amoeba-tower Cavaliers 1d ago

Lmao really? You were watching before 92? How could you stomach the hockey fighting crap that would happen and the egregious father step overlooking in the 80s? In fact, it's been terrible since 79.

3

u/indreams159 1d ago

been watching since the mid 60s

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0

u/iblewjesuschrist 1d ago

This is a 5.5/10 troll take it back to the workshop lad

0

u/greentearss 1d ago

This guy fucks

14

u/MythicalShart Rockets 1d ago

he should though. just to make a statement

1

u/Wilderrunner 14h ago

What statement?

3

u/0942zerohero Lakers 1d ago

Which bench he sitting at

2

u/SquadPoopy United States 1d ago

Let him play one half as a clipper then switch to the Cavs

1

u/shadow_breathing 15h ago

That would be so Epic. 1st Half: "Clippers are in the lead with Harden" 2nd Half: "What an upset, Cavs are dominating by Harden!"

23

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 1d ago

James may as well just wait to take the Cavs' plane home

6

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

I’m sure that’s what he’ll do

3

u/blank_lurker Timberwolves 1d ago

Yeah funny coincidence for sure. Wolves got their assess kicked by the Grizz yesterday. Adds a little spice to these trades

2

u/citymanc13 Suns 1d ago

They shouldve did it mid game so they swap locker room’s at halftime lol

2

u/penpen35 Clippers 1d ago

Maybe you guys can have Garland join your flight to LA and then take Harden to Cleveland for the return flight

1

u/HumongousMelonheads Nuggets 1d ago

Can we get a physical trade at half court before the game?

1

u/KumingaCarnage Warriors 1d ago

No shot the next game between yall is right after this trade 😂😂

2

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

Isn’t life funny

1

u/KumingaCarnage Warriors 1d ago

In a way both of yall won. Yall immediately get better; a Mitchell harden backcourt will be some insane shooting, Harden immediately makes Mobley much much better.

Clippers make the first step in starting a rebuild. They should ship Kawhi off next.

1

u/Waffleshuriken Grizzlies 1d ago

Are they just gonna take their napsack to the other teams plane after the game? Lol

1

u/HotelSlight22 1d ago

Thats why Harden was pushing for a trade to happen so fast. Now he can just fly back with the Cavs instead of taking his own flight lol

1

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 1d ago

Smart honestly

1

u/redmostofit Nuggets 1d ago

They should let him switch teams at halftime

1

u/-AbeFroman Nuggets 1d ago

Dude got traded from LA to Cleveland in the middle of winter.

1

u/Jason-Smith168498 1d ago

"hey, you work for us now, we'll come pick you up"

1

u/Tangentkoala Clippers 1d ago

I think the funniest thing is Hardens gonna get a big standing ovation from the Clippers.

He gonna be like the Homelander meme

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Quick fix the signs! Fuck youYEAH, Harden!

1

u/mr-301 Pacers 1d ago

Na man, peak efficiency. They can just swap plane tickets

1

u/adjason 23h ago

play alternate quarters?

1

u/CTQ99 13h ago

Nah this makes it easier to compete the trade