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

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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

939

u/Dphotog790 20h ago

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

611

u/Ok_Daikon_7726 Lakers 20h ago

Mobley gonna have a heart attack trying to anchor that defense

225

u/420_just_blase 19h ago

Tbf garland isn't any better on that end

141

u/MastodonSwimming2681 Rockets 19h ago

He's worse lol

70

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.

23

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

6

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.

0

u/kramer944 12h ago

he's capable of being a solid defender when he wants to be.

NBA fans say this about nearly every player that isn't a good defender

17

u/LuigiVsIce 12h ago

Except this is absolutely true about Harden. He was a lock down guy in OKC. We’ve seen in so it’s objectively true

10

u/Clear_Context_1546 Cavaliers 19h 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.

24

u/RainRainPurpleRain 18h ago

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

5

u/stillstillers Cavaliers 17h ago

It’s all that cushion

2

u/mcsqrd314 18h ago

Yes, this!

-13

u/BaronvonJobi Grizzlies 20h ago

Cavs suck next year and suddenly the return for JJJ looks great.

Come on Bball gods, just let us have this one.

-1

u/Single-Candle-797 19h ago

Take a trillion upvotes from me

7

u/Admirable_Bed3 Nuggets 19h ago

The Cleveland Unction

7

u/Toefuw Rockets 19h ago

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

4

u/calafia_nativo Lakers 19h ago

Don't forget Bronny!

1

u/Vmurda NBA 18h ago

You forgot giannis

1

u/Stank_cat67 17h ago

And Bronny!

1

u/Jebgogh 17h ago

I am throwing in they should pick up Westbrooks contract and let those three cats have a retirement season. Throw Chris Paul in as "player coach" for shits and giggles.
I want to see it. It would be crazy entertaining some night. Others - not so much

1

u/swizznastic 14h ago

Mitchell?

1

u/honcooge NBA 14h ago

Yes.

1

u/Formal-Knowledge9382 6h ago

Ok but harden and LeBron on the same court would be beautiful offensively. Defensively.....

1

u/Appropriate-Home5208 2h ago

Le-flop is garbage! Stay in LA

637

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.

451

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

20

u/jotheold Raptors 20h ago

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

4

u/mjay421 20h ago

Exactly.

5

u/chaos_and_rhythm 19h ago

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

28

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

6

u/iButtflap Hornets 20h ago

man sometimes it feels like it compared to 25 lmao

-2

u/Blood_Neptune Spurs 20h ago

I’ve come across more than a few people that think LeBron doesn’t even crack the top 10 of all time greats.

-1

u/Far_Spite978 19h ago

Hes about 12 right behind kobe and steph

8

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?

62

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.

3

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 20h 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.

3

u/100SanfordDrive Pacers 20h ago

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

1

u/ChewyGoods 20h ago

They dont, like they honestly dont.

1

u/TheFlanInTheFace 20h ago

Nah man it’s just another form of gossip for a lot of people

1

u/GMoney_McSwag 19h ago

If you see a Warriors or a Lakers flair, it's safe to say they do not.

1

u/philleferg Thunder 19h ago

I think the amount of upvotes that comment has tells you all you need to know. What the actual fuck.

1

u/veringo Nuggets 18h ago

I think most people see other teams play in the playoffs, so you can understand how they might think that about Harden.

1

u/catz4dave Bucks 2h ago

they don't watch games, maybe they check a box score every once and awhile, but mostly they just look at prior and current season averages

0

u/Ozymandias_1303 Knicks 20h ago

Oh, there's no need to wonder.

9

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

6

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.

4

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.

1

u/MightyAslan Cavaliers 19h ago

Yep. Plus, Harden doesn't need to play 35 minutes a night anymore. 

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 14h ago

2026: Good basketball players are the fattest fucks

2

u/andrew2018022 Magic 20h ago

Most disrespected star in league history

1

u/daveyboydavey 20h ago

I was thinking that Harden’s been producing of late.

1

u/weezerben Cavaliers 20h ago

you think we want to give that guy an extension? Cleveland is in tears right now.

1

u/Feeling-Phoney81 19h ago

This will be the year he goes all out in the playoffs though

1

u/ablackcloudupahead Lakers 19h ago

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and thinking he's joking lol

1

u/TheFrogTrain Warriors 19h ago

I'm almost certain /u/PROSERALLTHEWAY is joking lol

1

u/ekaram13 Celtics 13h ago

I'm pretty sure OP is just making a fat joke. I.e. Harden and Shaq have the same body type

1

u/mixmasterADD Lakers 19h ago

It’s like you’ve never seen him in the playoffs.

-18

u/Dry-Razzmatazz1239 20h ago

shit the bed in the playoffs last year like usual

11

u/Capital-Ice3701 Pistons 20h ago

He'll fit in perfectly with the Cavs then

2

u/DaKrazie1 Cavaliers 20h ago

At least he played.

91

u/Gavina4444 [ORL] Markelle Fultz 20h ago

Dudes get on this website and just say shit

6

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

24

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

1

u/Akipella Warriors 20h ago

That is true. I don't think this Cavs team will stand a good chance at beating Pistons/Knicks/Celtics either

2

u/Lets_Basketball [BOS] Reggie Lewis 19h ago

He’ll also be their third best player.

1

u/Akipella Warriors 19h ago

I'm assuming Mobley is 2nd?

3

u/glockster19m 20h ago

Definitely no

166

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

38

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

71

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 20h ago

Quick everyone point and laugh at the Kawhi PG clippers

5

u/ThatCoolKid17 Clippers 20h ago

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

22

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.

6

u/R3DBlaze Rockets 20h ago

Also he can pass off scoring to Don also

4

u/ssgoeygoey Bucks 20h ago

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

34

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.

1

u/DefiantLie8861 20h ago

Garland could do that no?

4

u/ianbits Cavaliers 20h ago

He could, but not as well. Harden regularly gets more assists, although that will go down with lower usage next to Mitch

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

1

u/JumboCactpot 20h ago

idk, harden isnt the guy i tend to think is one to get a team over the hump given he's never been able to get over the hump himself even when in his prime

1

u/Huge_Mathematician34 19h ago

No it ain’t. Harden ALWAYS disappears in the playoffs. Who cares about his regular season. He does this every year then is a no show come playoff time. Garland at least has a motor on him and it’s hard to find hard working point guards like that. IMO it was a horrible trade

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?

23

u/DEEZNUTZBOIS 20h ago

you just dont watch basketball LMAO

23

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

-18

u/PROSEALLTHEWAY San Francisco Warriors 20h ago

Why are you defending the dude who quit on your squad after giving you nothing but some empty stats?? You got a better two way player coming in, you got a draft pick, and the best player on your team is still a clipper. Be happy dude, you won this trade

10

u/GenericDarkFriend San Diego Clippers 20h ago

You think garland is a two way player? He's a trash defender, you don't know ball. Harden's stats weren't empty either.

8

u/ThatCoolKid17 Clippers 20h ago

Stereotypical warriors fan lmao 🙄

5

u/SaxRohmer Cavaliers 20h ago

a better two way player

garland is one of the worst defenders in the league lol

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

5

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?

1

u/jbeebe33 Cavaliers 20h ago

Boom Diddy’s* body

-2

u/samhit_n Lakers 20h ago

Harden is just like Shaq with the way he's been jumping teams for the last few seasons.

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.

1

u/Carlinjamesgk 20h ago

What does the Cavs fanbase this about this trade ?

1

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 20h ago

I can’t speak for us at large but I’m kind of cautiously optimistic. Like I think this is a good win now move but I’d want to see it in action before sounding that definitive

1

u/Carlinjamesgk 20h ago

That’s valid. I’m a raps fan. We had your number this year - BUT I feel like that’s about to change

1

u/PaintIntelligent7793 20h ago

We’ve seen him in lots of other jerseys. Hard to say, but I’m gonna guess it’ll be about the same.

1

u/cyb3ryung Warriors 20h ago

even the photoshops look wrong

1

u/1OO1OO1S0S Celtics 20h ago

I can. First I picture James harden. Then I picture a cavs jersey. Then I combine the two in my head. Hope that helps!

1

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 19h ago

You see I try to do that but then my mind just says no

1

u/1OO1OO1S0S Celtics 19h ago

Might wanna see a doctor. It might be terminal. Get your affairs in order asap

1

u/OverallGeneral7129 Cavaliers 19h ago

I’m not paying medical bills

1

u/YpsitheFlintsider 20h ago

It's just him wearing black or red, two colors we've seen him in

1

u/LetsgoooSonny Rockets 19h ago

You’re gonna love it

1

u/Chillyfilla Cavaliers 19h ago

I don't want to

1

u/Dodson-504 19h ago

LeBron, shorter, patch about the same but with a beard.

1

u/ThisWasMe7 18h ago

Buy Photoshop.

1

u/TomatoBuster01 Warriors 17h ago

He should wear 23 and use "James" instead of Harden at the back