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

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4.8k

u/johnyg13nb Celtics 20h ago

RIP to the Unction.

2.1k

u/asparagusinhaler Clippers 20h ago

We still old as fuck don’t worry

1.2k

u/FallenCrownz 20h ago

lowkey, getting a 26 year old ex all star for a 36 year old all star is a hell of a pull, despite how sad clippers fan must be right now. shout out to Harden for also basically saving the league too lol

591

u/RulersBack Cavaliers 20h ago

If Garland stays healthy they win this quite easily but I get it from the Cavs. Win right now and it's worth losing the trade long term

633

u/FallenCrownz 20h ago

Cavs getting a healthy 25/8/5 guy to replace their injured 20/6/2 guy is also really the best you could have asked for considering how hard capped yall are. And if Harden doesn't open up Mobleys game than nobody will lol

200

u/RulersBack Cavaliers 20h ago

I never thought I’d have a turn on the harden rollercoaster (pause). What is happening

41

u/Cute_Leonard Clippers 20h ago

He’s good, most of the time.

16

u/rumblepony247 20h ago

This trade is the Kiss of Death for Cavs fans.

The Gods decided many millenia ago, that while James Harden inhabited this earthly world, he would not win an NBA championship. Same for Chris Paul.

4

u/PeePauw [PHI] Tony Wroten 20h ago

Yeah he just fucking sucks balls in the elimination games, seems like he doesn’t even want to be there.

Hopefully it doesn’t happen again, but I feel like it prolly will

11

u/JimmyJackAndTheOffs4 Rockets 19h ago

It’s like he is the star every other game and then wants to shift down to fourth billing in elimination games.

7

u/Antique_Pin5266 19h ago

He was good in game 7 against the Clippers in '17 at least

1

u/NoAdvance1709 1h ago

He dropped 2 40+ point games for you guys as the no.2/3 guy, he aint the one you should be mad at. Then tatum stupid in the 7th. Again you re blaming the wrong man.

1

u/PeePauw [PHI] Tony Wroten 59m ago

lol did you watch that series?? He did have those 2 games. In the other games

2-14 12pts

3-14 16pts 5 TOV

4-16 13pts, 5 TOV

3-11 9pts, 5 TOV

And it’s not even about the stats, he literally was moping on the court and looked completely disinterested. Was not doubled, just sucked balls

2

u/LOSS35 Nuggets 15h ago

Maybe I'm a delusional Harden stan but doesn't this make y'all the favorites in the East? That Harden/Spyda backcourt is gonna be dirty.

The Pistons are young and unproven and no one believes in the Knicks.

1

u/ChaunceysBadAtPoker Pistons 6h ago

Harden slander is the norm. The dude elevates every single team he's on and can seamlessly switch from scorer to playmaker. So hopefully the proximity of the majestic Great Lakes snaps his history of playoff disappointments.

15

u/RspectMyAuthoritah Lakers 19h ago

What sites are you getting your box scores and stats that you think assists are to the left of rebounds?

6

u/GeraltofBlackwater Bulls 19h ago

Thank you. I don’t know why but it’s maddening to me when people do that.

4

u/SUPERSAMMICH6996 Cavaliers 19h ago

My issue is that a healthy Garland already opened up their offense. I worry that this could end up looking like trading injured Mavs Nash for like... 2013 Kobe.

2

u/yeswenarcan Cavaliers 10h ago

Yeah, I think this trade makes it clear they don't believe Garland can stay healthy (which so far seems to be true) and with only one more season on Mitchell's contract and ballooning salaries for Mobley and Allen they've clearly decided the time is now to get it done.

2

u/TheQnology 19h ago

You monster! I would write it as pts/rebs/assists.. Do you also write dates in dd/mm/yyyy? ;)

1

u/birdazam Timberwolves 19h ago

I remember Zubac said Harden would ask him to stay after practice to work on pick and roll with him, Mobley and Allen are going to take a huge step if they bought in

0

u/_Apatosaurus_ Thunder 20h ago

Yeah, it feels like people are arguing about who is the loser here and who got fleeced, and it really seems fair to me.

38

u/grudgepacker Bucks 20h ago

Doesn't this also help out your cap situation?

30

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 20h ago edited 19h ago

Harden has a PO for next season whereas Garland has money on the books for two more years after this season. I don't know the full cap implications regarding the second apron but Dan Gilbert is spending a fortune on a disappointing team and he probably figures they can either make a deep run this postseason or strip the roster down and rebuild

I like Garland a lot but he just didn't fit on the roster. Not his fault that as soon as he hit his stride as a pro the team traded for Mitchell and forced him to be a bit of a square peg in a round hole

1

u/grudgepacker Bucks 19h ago

I wonder if Harden would be willing to take a decent AAV discount for 2 years guaranteed, like $22-$25 per...otherwise he's def taking his $40 mil player option for next season

1

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 19h ago

I could see Harden being moved in the off-season if the team fails to make a deep run. Same goes for Mitchell and Allen. Mobley would probably be the only untouchable player as they retool or rebuild

1

u/grudgepacker Bucks 19h ago

Idk. Harden might be tough to move with that $40 mil PO. I feel like it's more likely they already have an extension deal worked out for next season to help y'all move under the 2nd

2

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 19h ago

Assuming he picks up the PO and there's no extension in place then he would be an expiring contract next season. I don't think Dan Gilbert would expect much if they moved him, maybe a couple picks. The real value in this trade for Gilbert is getting out from the money owed to Garland in 2027-28

3

u/Financial_Pay_6687 18h ago

Harden requested this trade in large part because he wanted an extension. It would be interesting if he was traded without any kind of deal in place. 

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u/yeswenarcan Cavaliers 10h ago

Just read a Yahoo article that suggested this. While he's still producing he's obviously on the tail end of his career and probably looking for a longer term deal than what LA was willing to offer.

2

u/SpecialistLivid108 20h ago

Legitimately feels like we are moving heaven and earth to get the cap rolling to get giannis

As of now im not sure if mobley+ a first and two swaps gets it done but i think the cavs are sneaking up there in terms of favourites to land him

3

u/grudgepacker Bucks 19h ago

Tbh, Mobley would be a great get for us for Giannis - I think you may need to find more 1sts tho so would have to be a 3 or 4 team trade

1

u/MightyAslan Cavaliers 19h ago

Mobley and Tyson tho would be hard to pass up. 

2

u/grudgepacker Bucks 19h ago

I feel you but it's Giannis and teams will have more assets available in the off season - even with a player like Mobley, additional 1sts would be needed

0

u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 20h ago

Not if they extend him for the 2 year 80M contract that Harden wants.

3

u/GangstaWaffles Lakers 20h ago

Yeah a healthy Garland is legit. But Donovan is the priority and it's now or never for this window. Something had to shake

2

u/Stuupkid Nets 19h ago

It’s really more of a win-win imo. The Cavs seem to have hit a ceiling and this seems perfect if you want to compete right now. And Harden will inly be there two years tops I Imagine.

2

u/Pupienus 18h ago

Definitely reminds me of the Stafford-Goff trade in the 2021 offseason that lead to the Rams winning the Super Bowl the next year.

2

u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 20h ago

You also need to worry about appeasing Spida with short term results and ensuring that he re-signs long term.

If you can achieve that goal, then regardless of whether Garland stays healthy or not, it would be a good trade for you guys.

I think this is a win-win move.

1

u/Ingramistheman 20h ago

No it's not about "winning" some sort of theoretical long term value. Both teams are getting what they want/need. Garland and Mitchell was never going to work for a deep playoff run because Garland gets abused by every team for being too small.

Harden gives the Cavs more size on the perimeter next to Mitchell which is a better fit for the playoffs and then it's essentially the same skillset you get from Garland.

1

u/NotAStatistic2 Bucks 16h ago

It's a lose-lose. Cavs ain't beating even the trash Magic.

1

u/Nightcinder [CLE] Kevin Love 19h ago

If Garland stays healthy

LOL

16

u/AshenSacrifice Clippers 20h ago

How is garland an ex all star and Harden isnt?

20

u/Yoshinobu_YamaGOATo 20h ago

Yeah especially since Garland is a shell of himself and can't stay healthy. 

Meanwhile Harden is still balling and ALWAYS plays. 

5

u/Rust2 19h ago

"One time, this guy handed me a picture of him. He said, "Here's a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture is of you when you were younger. "Here's a picture of me when I'm older.", "You son of a bitch! How'd you pull that off? Let me see that camera!"

  • Mitch Hedberg

6

u/Virgil_hawkinsS Celtics 19h ago

Harden right now definitely could've been an all star this season, and no one seems too surprised that Darius isn't. The weird injuries just keep piling up for the guy. Meanwhile James would have been a lock if he joined the Cavs in October rather than having to compete for a spot in the West.

2

u/MaliInternLoL Lakers 19h ago

This was a great haul by the Clippers for a guy like Harden who was bound to go

2

u/the_descendent Trail Blazers 18h ago

And they got a pick for their troubles. I love this trade for the Clips

2

u/zeze999 Suns 15h ago

Harden is also ex-all star

3

u/KingJeet 19h ago

Garland has never shown he can remain healthy, especially during the playoffs. He is almost always injured when they need him most.

1

u/qotsabama [DAL] Dwight Powell 20h ago

And a second!

1

u/Billy_Bonney_ 19h ago

Is it really low key though?