The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a major roster shake-up, acquiring 11-time All-Star James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick, league sources confirmed Tuesday night.
The blockbuster move, reported first by ESPN‘s Shams Charania, marks one of the most consequential trades of the 2025-26 NBA season and shifts the balance of power in both conferences.
The deal, which still awaits formal approval from the league office, sends the 36-year-old Harden, one of the game’s most prolific scorers, back to the Eastern Conference.
At the same time, it reunites the Clippers with Garland, a two-time All-Star guard who has spent his professional career in Cleveland before the trade.
For the Cavaliers, who hold a 30-21 record and sit comfortably in the playoff picture, the acquisition is a bold statement of intent: they are all-in on a championship push this season.
Harden, averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds across 44 games, gives Cleveland a dynamic scorer and playmaker to pair with stars like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
Meanwhile, the Clippers, sitting at 23-26 and fighting for a play-in spot, pivot toward a younger core with Garland heading to Southern California.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Clippers have clawed their way back into contention, and Garland, still only 26, offers both talent and long-term stability.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, speaking before the trade was finalized, acknowledged Harden‘s impact on the team in recent seasons.
“He means a lot to our team and we’ve seen it the last three years,” Lue said. “Who wouldn’t want to have James Harden?” in comments reported by the Associated Press earlier Tuesday.
Garland‘s time in Cleveland saw him grow into one of the league’s premier offensive guards, earning All-Star honors and helping guide the Cavaliers to a 64-win season in 2024-25.
However, injuries have limited his availability this year. He’s played just 26 games and has not appeared since mid-January due to a Grade 1 sprain in his right big toe.
For Harden, this move represents another chapter in a long, winding career that’s taken him to six teams over 17 seasons. Cleveland becomes his latest stop after previous stops in Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
What this means for both teams
From the Cavaliers‘ perspective, adding Harden addresses a specific need: a high-usage guard capable of creating offense against top defenses in playoff basketball.
Harden‘s passing and scoring versatility could take some pressure off Mitchell, who has shouldered much of Cleveland‘s playmaking duties in Garland‘s absence.
Salary cap considerations also played a role, as Garland‘s remaining contract commitments extended into future seasons, whereas Harden‘s deal, with a partially guaranteed player option, offers Cleveland more flexibility beyond this year.
On the Clippers‘ end, Garland brings youth and upside. A former No. 5 overall pick in 2019, he has shown efficiency and scoring ability when healthy.
Getting a younger All-Star guard at a controllable age and contract allows the Clippers to build around their core with an eye toward sustained competitiveness.
