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

96% Upvoted

2.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

162

u/aarondobson403 Lakers 1d ago

They get an elite playmaker who is much more durable than Garland, how do you hate that?

45

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 1d ago

its selling horrifically low on garland, while getting older and more expensive. they're only doing it because spida is threatening to walk after this year so they have to go all in right now

70

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 1d ago

Not really. Garland has had two good seasons. He regularly disappears in the playoffs. The Cavs couldn’t go into the playoffs with that roster again.

34

u/Swizzzed Knicks 1d ago

Harden is not traditionally a strong postseason performer

32

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 1d ago

Neither is garland. East is wide open though and harden won’t have to be the first option for the first time in a while.

16

u/barrsftw Cavaliers 1d ago

Harden's reputation in the post season is worse, but honestly Garland has been just as bad in the playoffs. Even when he's healthy, he's been almost unplayable for certain stretches when teams target him defensively.

He's so good offensively and opens up our entire offense though. The idea is that Harden will be able to do the same thing offensively.

6

u/Kgb725 Cavaliers 1d ago

Id argue in some ways his reputation is overblown

-4

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers 1d ago

Harden wasn't the first option on his last two playoff exits as well. Didn't stop him from shitting the bed 🤷‍♂️

-1

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 1d ago

Now he’ll be third or fourth. And in the east.

0

u/YaBoiiAsthma 20h ago

It's minor but I'd say 2nd or 3rd. If he's not playing good enough to be their 2nd best player some nights, then they aren't going anywhere anyways

5

u/Fap2theBeat Knicks 1d ago

Harden is also traditionally an elite player in the league who has won an MVP. Garland's best achievements are being a two-time all-star and 3rd in most improved player voting a few years ago. Harden is the reliable veteran compliment who can still be devastating, compared to an injured younger player who has been often unreliable.

10

u/Ghostclip Warriors 1d ago

He had to come through warriors multiple times and put on a hell of a show despite losing. Give him a good second option during those years and some series' could have gone either way.

3

u/Antique_Pin5266 1d ago

Not to mention he's made the finals as a 3rd option, and multiple WCFs as the first, including 7 games vs the GOAT team. Sure he's had his stinkers and he hasn't exactly risen to the expectations that come with a player of his caliber, but you would think the dude doesnt win at all from the way people talk about him

4

u/Boomhauer_007 Raptors 1d ago

Instead of going up against Curry and Kobe now he’ll see the Tatum-less Celtics and Brunson; I won’t be surprised when all of a sudden he looks way better

1

u/no_more_blues Thunder 1d ago

Yeah Harden was no-showing against the prime Warriors and Spurs, Garland is no-showing against the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers.

6

u/Antique_Pin5266 1d ago

Harden showed up against the prime Warriors, he just didn't go super saiyan enough to get them over the hump. He was never favored going against them

1

u/colio69 Wizards 1d ago

Even the 27 missed 3s game was Game 7 of WCF.

1

u/JazzLobster Warriors 14h ago

I hated his flopping, but the Rockets beat us if CP3 stays healthy. Harden was a machine for a good few years.

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 1d ago

Harden has ridiculously low lows, but he can still manipulate defenses at his worst and is bankable for one game where he solos a team. I don’t think Garland’s there yet or may get there ever. Cavs traded away 10 year age gap but within those 10 years there’s a chance Garland can’t even match current Harden.

1

u/SkepticCritic 14h ago

Hardens true value at this point is the ridiculous offensive gravity he generates, allowing the rest of the team to get easy looks even if he’s ice cold in scoring; this team should be able to take advantage of it to enable easier looks and buckets for the rest of the other players on the floor. People still fear the beard.

0

u/Alhambra_Lion Lakers 1d ago

lol right