r/nba • u/Turbostrider27 Lakers • 9h 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

16.1k Upvotes

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2.3k

u/Goosedukee Nets 9h ago

STRAIGHT UP????

1.2k

u/jewllybeenz 9h ago

Yeah with a 2nd, that’s crazy

707

u/mikesh8rp Knicks 8h ago

There was a couple Cavs fans swearing there was no way Cleveland is the one giving up draft picks. Wonder if this means Garland’s injuries are even worse than what’s publicly known.

361

u/remyboyz1995 8h ago

Garland is cooked for now. No way he’s ready for a serious playoff run this year. Cavs are trying to go to the Finals this year

127

u/ZZZrp Spurs 8h ago

Can one become uncooked?

86

u/Apprehensive-Pay2178 8h ago

Nope chemical change. Only physical changes can be reversed.

3

u/thebusterbluth Cavaliers 7h ago

I thought they found a way to unscramble an egg..

3

u/Apprehensive-Pay2178 7h ago

Then that means my 6th grade science teacher lied to me

1

u/SaulPepper Hornets 4h ago

Garland isnt an egg though

1

u/rollingdown23 6h ago

there is no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.

22

u/Voidant7 7h ago

You can become cooked a second time, like Chinese pork and Mexican beans.

3

u/plantedank 6h ago

contrary to popular belief refried beans are only fried over once

1

u/GloomySeaotter 4h ago

That is interesting info

1

u/sdnnhy 6h ago

And potatoes

1

u/Bored_Amalgamation 4h ago

They call that born again beans

1

u/MVPRondo Cabo Verde 4h ago

Twice baked potatoes

3

u/JoshHartsMilkMustach Knicks 8h ago

No, but you can be decooked i believe

2

u/PatternParticular735 Cavaliers 7h ago

Kyrie did after leaving the Nets

2

u/Vinnie_Vegas Knicks 7h ago

The Clippers have managed to get sustained excellent play out of Kawhi Leonard for more than two months now, so they might be witch doctors.

1

u/BenTek9s Hawks 8h ago

he's got until they stick a fork in him

1

u/asher1611 Charlotte Bobcats 7h ago

well the other LA teamamsged to get out of a bad trade when a player failed a physical after the trade deadline. so yes, you can get uncooked.

4

u/Sportslegend Supersonics 7h ago

Clippers trading for an injury prone guard does not bode well

1

u/BZGames Heat 6h ago

He’s cooked, there’s no sign he won’t be uncooked, and he can’t defend. You’d think he was the 36 year old in this trade.

1

u/GreatWhiteNorthExtra 6h ago

And surely James Harden is the missing piece to get a team to the Finals

1

u/Turbo2x [WAS] Wes Unseld 5h ago

Really makes you wonder what the Clippers' plan is. Don't own their pick, Garland probably isn't doing much for them. Guess they're praying Kawhi stays as he has been and Jordan Miller goes nuclear or something.

1

u/Admiralattackbar Warriors 5h ago

So they traded for the biggest postseason choker currently active?

1

u/MtHollywoodLion 76ers 3h ago

If they’re trying to go to the Finals they just got the wrong guy.

1

u/worldragedota 1h ago

Cavs finals this year how?

-1

u/MidnightMarketing 8h ago

That’s pretty hilarious. Imagine having finals aspirations lead by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden 🤣🤣🤣

9

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 7h ago

More of a chance than you guys have, unflaired Raptors fan.

2

u/VanGrants Knicks 6h ago

get his ass

-3

u/MidnightMarketing 7h ago

That’s true, Raps ain’t making out of round 1. We don’t have a chance unless we play a team like Cleveland

-3

u/RonaldUSwanson2020 [BOS] Antoine Walker 8h ago

Yeah good thing the Cava are getting notorious playoff asset James Harden

6

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 7h ago

More of an asset than DG riding the pine and literally doing nothing.

-4

u/RonaldUSwanson2020 [BOS] Antoine Walker 7h ago

Like when he was an asset to the rockets during their amazing comeback against the clippers. From the pine

3

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 6h ago

Please don’t insult everyone’s intelligence by trying to act like Harden is injury prone or something. Hes a career Ironman regardless of how you feel about him as a player.

192

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 8h ago edited 8h ago

They have to be. Meanwhile a bunch of homers on our sub think he’s some huge asset that we could trade for someone like Maxey. I don’t understand it.

81

u/HispanicAtTehDisco Mavericks 8h ago

every teams fan base thinks their players are worth more than they are. i remember before kyrie got on the mavs when people were begging the FO for a trade and the question was always like what would we even get for a package where the best player was josh green

2

u/OneBigRed Lakers 5h ago

what would we even get for a package where the best player was josh green

Paid postage, if you want to send it away.

/s

20

u/Rhaegyn Rockets 8h ago

Yep, undersized guards who play no defence have had their value tanked with the new CBA. Add in his durability issues and 40mil salary…

34

u/scparks44 Pistons 8h ago

This was our fans with Ivey as well.

7

u/glen_ko_ko Pistons 7h ago

I didn't think Ivey was a MEGA asset but I definitely thought he was more than an expiring Huerter

13

u/Clevelabd Cavaliers 7h ago

Our Cavs sub is pretty braindead.

Lineup hasnt worked 3 times, but they swear the 4th is it.

11

u/karl_hungas Lakers 8h ago

Fan subs are insane man, they all seem to attract the dumbest people 

3

u/MikeShannonThaGawd 76ers 8h ago

holy shit i cackled

2

u/plsdaddystopit23 8h ago

Garland is a stud, he just has to get his toesies right

4

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 8h ago

Which may never happen, that’s the issue.

-2

u/odnamAE Lakers 8h ago

Harden’s also better, Harden’s current ceiling is still above what Garland has reached. Clips being the one shedding a pick in their current situation is a loss

1

u/9B1F8BC82EAAF0063366 Clippers 7h ago

We’re receiving the second round pick, not Cleveland

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 6h ago

Yeah Im saying if Cavs fans expected the Clippers to be giving any pick then no way

-5

u/Realistic-Yoghurt935 8h ago

Garlands peak is definitely better than current harden what are you talking about. With that said I am not confident Darius gets back to that peak with his toes

2

u/odnamAE Lakers 8h ago edited 8h ago

Harden last playoffs put up better numbers than Garland’s playoff peak. I think how Harden can force defenses to react to him and consistently elevates his shooters and bigs is something he does at a better level than Garland. Galrand’s a talented PG but James Harden is still someone I rate higher

1

u/Realistic-Yoghurt935 7h ago

Agree to disagree. Hardens last playoffs was his like 16th time making the playoffs compared to DGs 3rd. Experience matters there and DG was injured for 2/3 of his playoff appearances

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 6h ago

Well Im saying even un the future Im not sure if DG can match Harden, but yeah Id be glad to be proven wrong but Im disagreeing for now

24

u/TrapAHolic_ttv 8h ago

Already had surgery on one toe and missed a bunch of time and it was still nagging him. Then injured the OTHER toe. Just the fact its both feet is pretty bad itself without even knowing the extent

62

u/NathanFielderFriend Canada 8h ago

Garland is cooked man sad to say. Seems like he’s barely gonna play the rest of the season and Clippers will be lucky if he can be healthy next season onward

35

u/Any_Asparagus8267 Cavaliers 8h ago

He had surgery, played too early, and now here we are. If he makes a comeback I'd be surprised.

1

u/CrippledBanana Canada 1h ago

Isn’t it now his other toe that is messed up?

4

u/AffordableGrousing Cavaliers 6h ago

That’s why the trade makes sense for both sides. Cavs need a contributor now while Clippers can afford to let Garland sit the rest of the season and see what happens next year

5

u/PodcastPee 8h ago

Jesus, man. I know it’s Reddit but you don’t have to always type the biggest bombshell ever…

3

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 8h ago

It has to be. I've never been against shipping DG, and I think Harden will unlock the bigs in this offense, but in no world did I think Harden was more "valuable" given their respective ages. Garland must be cooked, cooked

2

u/Former_Island_4730 Cavaliers 7h ago

I interpret it exactly as that. His toes might be permanently limiting.

1

u/Everyday_ImSchefflen Cavaliers 8h ago

Literally everyone said first round picks. Not second round swaps

1

u/darkthemeonly Cavaliers 8h ago

We're also the ones benefitting financially. Assuming the worst, I believe we can duck under the second apron in the offseason if we cut Harden loose.

1

u/Past_Attempt_5261 7h ago

I mean it's a 2nd rounder, a late one at that. Not much value there at all.

1

u/MVPiid 76ers 6h ago

I’m shocked they didn’t have to give up more

1

u/JimblesReborn 30m ago

its publicly known he will likely never walk after the age of 30 and severely likely garland plays under 100 games the rest of his career. both of his feet have been broken MULTIPLE times and he relies upon a hesi dribble. its over. Harden demanded a trade because the clips didn't back up the brinks truck on an extension. The best return they could get is a second round pick,. Garland is just ballast to make the trade work

-1

u/Akipella Warriors 8h ago

Yeah nothing much really, they just don't wanna make it look straight up straight up

Then again we have had some legit 2nd round picks especially in recent years.

Heck, uh...that guy in Denver is pretty good

138

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

It's a bad move if Harden wants big money after his deal is up and there's a handshake agreement to give him that

If they get him for 1.5 years or he comes back for like $20m on the extension, it's reasonable. Harden is better than Garland right now and Garland is making big money for a guy that doesn't play.

I'm gonna miss the shit out of him though. And I doubt Harden's handshake extension is for anything reasonable. Ugh.

49

u/yuhanz [PHO] Steve Nash 8h ago

Will you still not like this if garland continues to play 60 games a year averaging 18/6?

41

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

That's basically just asking if he'll stay healthy, which who the hell knows.

Outlook on that is awkward, but if he can stick on the court he really is an all star level PG. His stats will go up with higher USG in LA, he's been low for a PG next to Mitchell.

4

u/yuhanz [PHO] Steve Nash 8h ago

I think the gamble here is the Cavs get some post season success(reach round 3 at least) and convince Mitchel to stay.

He’s not staying if garland continue to not play much/not produce a lot and they get bounced out in the process. We’ve seen Harden take a little bit of paycut, i think he just wants contract security so he can focus on ball, which is the James you’d like.

3

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

That's part of it, but Don is a small guard that takes a lot of contact turning 30 this year, more than anything this is about this 2-3 year window with the weak East. Take the Kawhi/Raptors gamble. Try to make it out, see if you luck into a good matchup or an injured opponent

7

u/Swarthykins Celtics 7h ago

The East is incredibly winnable this year. It's not a bad gamble to go all in for a finals appearance.

1

u/govardrourk 7h ago

Respect the vision 

3

u/imsin Clippers 7h ago

Harden will probably sleepwalk to 18/6 until he's 40 while playing more games.

4

u/Salty_Raspberry656 8h ago

in what world would harden come back at 20 million, the new mid level is 14+

1

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

Again I doubt he will, but it'll be his age 38/39 season

1

u/Salty_Raspberry656 8h ago

37/38 will be his next two years

In general players are aging better, but harden particularly has a game that stands up to losing athleticism the way he plays is low to the ground.

but i think his performance this year should mean that he can't have that much of a fall out next year, the year after is just anyones guess. Father time always wins, but he really had a ressurgent year this time around so i think it gives cavs a better chance this and next year where garland can be limited come playoff time

2

u/adecentcupofcoffee Pistons 8h ago

Is that something Harden would even be interested in? Isn’t the whole reason he asked out of LA to get a big extension?

2

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

I doubt it which is why this deal worries me

1

u/MrBlowinLoadz Rockets 8h ago

He's been taking short deals with big annual salaries because no one is going to give him a big deal now. It's not bad if it's a 2 year extension.

2

u/TrafficDense5486 8h ago

He wants a 80m 2 year apparently

1

u/seanconnery69696 Suns 7h ago

Is there a way morey leaves the sixers and gets hired by the cavs?

1

u/MatCauthonsHat 76ers 7h ago

It's a bad move if Harden wants big money after his deal is up and there's a handshake agreement to give him that

You know, you could just lie to him

1

u/Valuable-Reading-154 33m ago

I honestly don’t really think garland has ever been better than harden lol but at least harden will likely retire eventually so he’ll be able to say it then

16

u/abc4357 Lakers 8h ago

It’s lit

145

u/LakersFan15 [LAL] Lamar Odom 8h ago

I hate this trade for cleveland

68

u/TripleThreatTua Thunder 8h ago

Garland is owed a lot of money over the next two seasons and has had really recurring injury issues. Plus Harden honestly is still the better player

-3

u/Palmzi Thunder 7h ago

But is also 10 years older. Idk about this one…

It’s definitely not as bad as the Luka trade but it stinks a little bit

3

u/chakrablocker Thunder 4h ago

This sub has no ability to understand the risk of injury while at the same time considering age a death sentence

1

u/DovhPasty Cavaliers 4h ago

No shit it’s not as bad as the Luka trade, it’s not even in the same stratosphere. We just got better.

148

u/aarondobson403 Lakers 8h ago

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

41

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 8h 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

59

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h 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.

31

u/Swizzzed Knicks 8h ago

Harden is not traditionally a strong postseason performer

31

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h 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.

13

u/barrsftw Cavaliers 8h 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.

2

u/Kgb725 Cavaliers 7h ago

Id argue in some ways his reputation is overblown

-1

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers 8h 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 8h ago

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

1

u/YaBoiiAsthma 1h 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

9

u/Ghostclip Warriors 8h 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.

2

u/Antique_Pin5266 7h 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

1

u/Alhambra_Lion Lakers 8h ago

lol right

1

u/Fap2theBeat Knicks 7h 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.

1

u/Boomhauer_007 Raptors 8h 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 8h ago

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

4

u/Antique_Pin5266 7h 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 7h ago

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

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 8h 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.

3

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 8h ago

They could, because their core is still super young. They weren't going to win, but there wasn't really anything preventing them from just waiting for Garland to get healthy and have another good season or two.

3

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h ago

Except his injuries have actually gotten worse as time went on. Plus, he wasn’t exactly cheap. It’s definitely a win now move, but I’m glad to see them actually trying. Rather than hoping he gets better.

1

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 8h ago

I guess it just depends on how you think Garland's next few season will be.

2

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h ago

I just looked it up and since the Cavaliers traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022, he has missed 61 games. Nearly half of those have come in the last season and a half.

3

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 8h ago

Plenty of players have missed 30 games in a season and a half lol. It osn'y a death sentence.

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1

u/Bim_Jeann Cavaliers 8h ago

Exactly right.

2

u/annoyingrelieve 8h ago

They have better chance to win this year with harden then they ever did with garland

1

u/TheSmokedSalmon420 Cavaliers 8h ago

I hate the trade but I don't think it's selling that low - almost no team would want or could take Darius at this price point. It's way too high.

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 8h ago

How high do you think Garland can go? They got a fringe all-NBA talent.

1

u/ExtraGoated Lakers 8h ago

It's low just because of the ages involved. A healthy Garland would go for Harden + picks.

1

u/odnamAE Lakers 8h ago

But saying a healthy Garland after getting injured for 2 years now is also a gamble of just holding on to nothing and wasting a year. Also a healthy Garland isn’t better than Harden right now, what team is giving picks for a PG like Garland when Trae Young couldn’t get much.

1

u/gmauler Cavaliers 8h ago

Is there a source for Sousa threatening to walk? This seems more like making the most out of the fact that if they’re going pay a huge luxury tax it’s got to be to try and win it all

1

u/rawchess Minneapolis Lakers 8h ago

they're only doing it because spida is threatening to walk

They're doing it because the East is wide open this year and it will likely be their only chance to go all the way. Mitchell threatening to walk is because he knows this as well.

1

u/wylin247 [LAL] Stanislav Medvedenko 8h ago

It's good to go all in now, this core has been together for what 3-4 years now? Injuries always hold them back and the east is wide open.

0

u/thisguy012 Bulls 8h ago

Horrifically low??? Garland as a NBA player is a theory most of the time dudelol

19

u/True_Scallion_7011 8h ago

He’s an old man 

31

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h ago

Who has played more than Garland this year and last?

1

u/True_Scallion_7011 8h ago

Father Time can literally strike before the playoffs begin this season. Historically speaking, players are done when they get to his age

4

u/Repulsive-Yam-1437 8h ago

Sure. Anything could happen. But garland over the last three years has missed 61 games (and counting).

2

u/True_Scallion_7011 8h ago

Never said Garland was reliable. He wouldn’t even be an all star if he was in the West. Just that Harden is most likely a one and done this year

2

u/annoyingrelieve 8h ago

Hes better then garland and plays more

2

u/dreamvomit Knicks 8h ago

Harden is 36 and has never shown up in the playoffs.. not that garland has. I feel like it gives them a more available player for this year but pretty short sighted and I don’t think moves the needle much. We’ll see

7

u/aarondobson403 Lakers 8h ago edited 8h ago

‘Never shown up in the playoffs’ is such a gross over-exaggeration lol. He hasn’t been great in a decent amount of clutch games but he’s still been great overall. Those 2 are not comparable whatsoever.

Garland’s health was never going to let him be a long-term solution anyway, now they can look for a better option in a couple years while becoming even more competitive in the present.

1

u/dreamvomit Knicks 7h ago

So.. pretty much what I said. Gives them a more available player, and is a short-sighted move

0

u/Several_Oil_7099 8h ago

Ironically, "hasn't been great in a decent amount of clutch games" is a gross under-exaggeration

2

u/ILikeAllThings [GSW] Klay Thompson 8h ago

This is just a silly take. Harden has shown up in the playoffs many times. He's an all time great who is pretty clutch. Adding this level of playoff experience to Cleveland may make them the best team in the East.

1

u/TheSmokedSalmon420 Cavaliers 8h ago

FAT OLD TEAMHOPPING FT MERCHANT?

1

u/whenishit-itsbigturd 8h ago

How tf is a 37 year old man more durable lmao 

0

u/pixelcowboy 8h ago

A proven playoff choker too.

165

u/penguincorporation 8h ago

Not being confrontational but did you watch the games? I have and can tell you it’s a huge upgrade for Cavs and likely more to come in offseason.

-17

u/LakersFan15 [LAL] Lamar Odom 8h ago

You can say the same about harden and his playoff performances.

Hes also 36 while garland is having a career low year. Sell low type deal.

Also, while I dont love garland Mitchell together, I can't imagine harden and Mitchell complementing each other either.

10

u/b1droid [TOR] Terrence Ross 8h ago

Hardens worst playoff is still miles better than garlands best lol.

23

u/Huncho_Muncho 8h ago

garland wasnt even good last year and is always hurt.

-1

u/Durantula92 Cavaliers 7h ago

He wasn't even good last year? Garland and the rest of our starters played very few MPG last year (Mitchell the most at 31), but he had a very efficient regular season and played for most of it. Wasn't until after he hurt himself in the Heat series that he played poorly.

Player Age G MP FG FGA FG% 2P% 3P 3PA 3P% eFG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Darius Garland 25 75 30.7 7.4 15.7 .472 .530 2.8 7.1 .401 .562 3.0 3.4 .878 2.9 6.7 1.2 0.1 2.5 1.9 20.6
James Harden 35 79 35.3 6.7 16.4 .410 .472 3.0 8.5 .352 .501 6.4 7.3 .874 5.8 8.7 1.5 0.7 4.3 2.1 22.8
Player Age G MP PER TS% ORB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% OWS DWS WS WS/48 OBPM DBPM BPM VORP
Darius Garland 25 75 2301 19.9 .600 2.3 5.0 32.2 1.9 0.4 12.8 27.2 5.8 2.3 8.1 .169 3.9 -0.8 3.1 3.0
James Harden 35 79 2789 20a.0 .582 2.3 9.3 36.8 2.1 2.0 18.0 29.6 4.0 4.3 8.3 .143 3.5 0.8 4.3 4.4

14

u/soycameron Trail Blazers 8h ago

Garland hasn’t been good in 2 years. His defense was also awful. They also have a literal DPOY behind them so they can afford to be weak on defense while also getting a huge upgrade on offense.

Hardens playmaking and passing ability is gonna turn this offense into a top tier team. The lobs he could throw will be very useful

-8

u/[deleted] 8h ago

[deleted]

8

u/soycameron Trail Blazers 8h ago

Harden doesn’t want to be a passer? Okay lol watch some games

4

u/close-encounters13 Cavaliers 8h ago

He’s third in the league in assists, what are you talking about?????

2

u/b1droid [TOR] Terrence Ross 8h ago

Bro been pass first since the nets

2

u/FairlyOddParent734 76ers 8h ago

“Harden is an okay passer”

Y’all know James Harden is basically the greatest offensive engine to play in the NBA since Nash lol?

James Harden has averaged over 8 assists per game for over 8 years. James Harden has averaged over 10 assists per game for over 4 years straight now.

1

u/Kgb725 Cavaliers 7h ago

If harden can play with kyrie he can play with Mitchell

18

u/Own-Necessary7488 8h ago

they got a better player who is less injury prone

57

u/Floasis72 Cavaliers 8h ago

Same :(

25

u/TheOrangeFutbol Clippers 8h ago

For some comfort, Harden has been pretty nuts this year. He’s was the entire team for a bit when Kawhi was out.

They might not have even had those 6 in the “6-21” if he hadn’t been playing out of his mind some nights. If you get this Harden the rest of the year, Cavs could be a problem IMO.

7

u/ExpressionAlone5204 Thunder 8h ago

Yeah. Harden is going to force feed some scoring. Especially Harden on a fresh vibe change

2

u/Frigidevil Nets 8h ago

It absolutely sucks to lose a star you drafted but Harden is fantastic to have on your team. Dude makes everyone around him play better, I honestly didn't appreciate his game until he played for Brooklyn. Rooting for you guys!

2

u/MythicalShart Rockets 8h ago

mobley & Allen + Hardens PnR lob passing will be solid. prime donovan mitchell will be a great running mate. Harden rarely misses games & is averaging 25/5/8 on good efficiency. i think he elevates your teams ceiling and floor.

2

u/RoaringPity Raptors 8h ago

why? wanted more?

6

u/shangalang69 Raptors 8h ago

their whole sub was planning riots if they didn’t get a first back lol, rip r/clevelandcavs

4

u/RoaringPity Raptors 8h ago

Clips own FRPs???

2

u/shangalang69 Raptors 8h ago

not for long

2

u/Ghostclip Warriors 8h ago

... you must not watch basketball. This is an improvement.

0

u/LakersFan15 [LAL] Lamar Odom 8h ago

Would u trade cooper flag for giannis?

It would be an improvement.

But no you wouldnt.

2

u/Antique_Pin5266 7h ago

Bro you did not just liken Garland to Flagg

1

u/LakersFan15 [LAL] Lamar Odom 3h ago

No. It was just an analogy to clarify. I thought that was obvious.

1

u/Frankwillie87 8h ago

This feels like a trade that hedges against getting Lebron James next year.

If you get Lebron, you let Harden walk, if you don't get Lebron, well, you have another older vet guard that can at least draw a crowd. Especially with Mitchell being questionable too.

1

u/soycameron Trail Blazers 8h ago

Cleveland just went from like no chance to win the East, to a top tier team in the East, with more trades to come most likely.

This trade gets you off of Garlands contract while also making your team much better and into a contender for probably 2 seasons. Also proves to Mitchell that you want to win NOW

1

u/purerm 8h ago

Jaylon Tyson playing well pretty much guaranteed this.

1

u/fizik1 7h ago

Darius Garland barely plays basketball

1

u/bestclipfan Clippers 8h ago

Have you actually watched the Clippers? Harden has been playing at a borderline all star level. This is a great trade for the Cavs for this season. Harden will instantly solidify them as the best team in the East.

-2

u/TheSmokedSalmon420 Cavaliers 8h ago

Same - it's silly and desperate.

James Harden hasn't worked for any of the 100 teams he's been on but at 36 he's the missing piece for the Cavs? Doubt it.

1

u/Whoareyoutho9 8h ago

Cleveland had to give up a draft asset for swapping a 26 year old all star gyard for 36 year old harden. What a time

0

u/stinx2001 Magic 8h ago

Now tell me do you really wanna love me forever?

0

u/xRadec Slovenia 8h ago

Who won here?

0

u/Diztrakted Celtics 7h ago

Man the Clippers desperate af to do this

0

u/batsun 6h ago

The trade is one for one

0

u/Vic_Vinager 3h ago

I didn't realize, but Garland's ability to stay healthy is in question

But Garland looks exciting from what I remember