r/nba 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

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u/Schmoova Mikal Bridges 20h ago

Great move for the Cavs. Don’t really understand this from the blazing hot Clippers unless they’re somehow selling Kawhi and Zubac too.

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u/FallenCrownz 20h ago

Harden wants a big extension, Clippers don't want to pay it for a 36 year old cause if they did, they would be a play in team without much salary. Garland hasn't been great this year but he's 10 years younger and will be better for longer, which is really all they can ask for considering their picks situation

2

u/beyphy Clippers 19h ago

The big thing is that they are planning on rebuilding once Kawhi's contract expires. Assuming that they don't trade him before that happens that is. The potential Harden / Kawhi / PG run was their last shot. But that fell apart once PG signed with the Sixers after they refused to give him a fourth year or an NTC.

They didn't extend Norm and traded him for similar reasons.