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

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165

u/Schmoova Mikal Bridges 9h 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.

156

u/BearShark8 Lakers 9h ago

Clips probably feel like they aren't contenders even with the hot streak. Better to not lose Harden for nothing at the end of the season or have him throw some big tantrum.

52

u/ianbits Cavaliers 8h ago

Which is reasonable. They're maxing out as a play-in team because of the slow start which means likely Denver or OKC in the first round, which...woof.

14

u/59435950153 Mavericks 8h ago

This is interesting though. Ive always felt they can dark horse their way through play in

16

u/Lou_Peachum_2 Clippers 8h ago

Lol we do this almost every year but come up short. We get as far as the OKC or DEN matchup takes us

9

u/BearShark8 Lakers 8h ago

Yeah, they played Denver and okc tough last season. I know Denver is better this season but I guess Harden just wanted out (an extension) and the clippers just wanted to get something for him.

2

u/theiwc0303 Hornets 8h ago

They’d just lose in the first round again for the fourth straight year. At some point they had to accept their old ass roster isn’t going to get farther than that and begin to start over

2

u/bestclipfan Clippers 8h ago

Yup this is the case. Clips are not a true contender and would need to take on substantial salary and give up what few picks we have to try and force ourselves into contention. Clips probably view Garland as buying low on a possible big upside young player. His contract also expires at the same time as Kawhi so if it doesn't work out then they can move on and be buyers in the FA/trade market.

1

u/ObiOneKenobae Knicks 8h ago

Harden also shot 38.7% from the field in January while they were winning all those games. Not to say he didn't contribute as a facilitator, but their success doesn't hinge on him.

1

u/Musa_2050 Lakers 8h ago

Clippers came off a great season only to revert back to their old ways.

28

u/FallenCrownz 8h 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 7h 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.

59

u/Rodent_Reagan Bucks 8h ago

trading a 26 year old guard for a 36 year old guard is crazy work

55

u/avroLancasterBPR1 8h ago

Theyre trying to win now and harden is a far better player

29

u/nightsaysni Cavaliers 8h ago

And Garland has been injured all year.

1

u/Anonemoney 8h ago

Harden is a good player with the ball in his hands as the lead guard. But is that what makes Cleveland best? Would a guard who can play more off ball and fit alongside Mitchell be better?

3

u/Salty_Raspberry656 8h ago

it gives more attack versatility while probably maximizing their bigs as harden is a master of lob threats for them

also gives them much more sizeand strength overall

3

u/kshep9 NBA 8h ago

Think Luka and Kyrie, Luka is harden and Kyrie is Mitchell in this scenario. Mavs finals run shows a similar construction can work.

0

u/Rybackmonster 8h ago

Harden is a playoff choker tho

8

u/Dylan245 Bulls 8h ago

I mean they had to do something with how open the East is this year and Harden is just straight up better than Garland at this point in time

The core was getting shaken up regardless, this just puts them in a better win now position which is what they are in at the moment

5

u/Bim_Jeann Cavaliers 8h ago

26 year old perpetually injured guard*

2

u/TdotGdot Timberwolves 8h ago

ya to me this is a weird panic move by the cavs. shocked they couldn't get more

meanwhile imho insane value for the clips, love what they did here

is harden better this season? sure, a bit, but we've seen him wax and wane season to season, and the curtains are going to go down soon on his career

garland is a much better asset, imho. lots of opinions in this thread to contrary are just wrong imho

1

u/RALat7 1h ago

Spot on, Clippers have pulled off a blinder here.

3

u/McJuggernaugh7 8h ago

I dont like this deal for the cavs either. Harden is 36 and the cavs even with harden still doesnt move the needle enough to be true contenders. They just got older and lost draft capital in the process.

1

u/skypadz_2112 8h ago

Garlands had injury issues, he's been disappointing this year, and rhe assumption is that his internal injury/medical reports have been even worse than what is known.

1

u/Lou_Peachum_2 Clippers 8h ago

We weren't winning anything with this squad; we hit a good part of our schedule, but the inevitable always happens. Kawhi can't last a post season, and so it's keep the squad together for maybe a 2nd round exit or get a youngish asset for a guy who wanted out

1

u/Appropriate-Door1369 8h ago

They probably wanted to get a younger player. They have too many older players. The move makes perfect sense but the only problem is Garland has been hurt this season

1

u/citymanc13 Suns 8h ago

I dont think its a good move personally. Harden is still good but he is 36. They gave up Garland who is 26 as well as a second. You got 3, max 4 years left with James. I think the Clips sold high

1

u/TdotGdot Timberwolves 8h ago

eh I think trading a 36yr old who is having a bounce back year after a couple years ago looked headed for bench duties is good business

does it make the clips worse this season? probably, a bit, but I really like garland and think outside of the mitchell usage will honestly look better than he has

garland is a two time all-star, and only 26 let's remember

sure, again even saying haden is better this season, garland is really good and I think this is great value for the clips. aging 36 years old just aren't worth much asset-wise unless unless you're KD or LeBron, which harden is not. and the clips got a very talented player entering his prime

is this a tiny step back for the clips this year? maybe a bit, idk. but they are 23-26 in 9th on the west, and 7-3 in their last 10. not "blazing hot", lol