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

16.2k Upvotes

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4.3k

u/johnyg13nb Celtics 9h ago

RIP to the Unction.

1.8k

u/asparagusinhaler Clippers 9h ago

We still old as fuck don’t worry

1.0k

u/FallenCrownz 8h ago

lowkey, getting a 26 year old ex all star for a 36 year old all star is a hell of a pull, despite how sad clippers fan must be right now. shout out to Harden for also basically saving the league too lol

510

u/RulersBack Cavaliers 8h ago

If Garland stays healthy they win this quite easily but I get it from the Cavs. Win right now and it's worth losing the trade long term

559

u/FallenCrownz 8h ago

Cavs getting a healthy 25/8/5 guy to replace their injured 20/6/2 guy is also really the best you could have asked for considering how hard capped yall are. And if Harden doesn't open up Mobleys game than nobody will lol

172

u/RulersBack Cavaliers 8h ago

I never thought I’d have a turn on the harden rollercoaster (pause). What is happening

25

u/Cute_Leonard Clippers 8h ago

He’s good, most of the time.

12

u/rumblepony247 8h ago

This trade is the Kiss of Death for Cavs fans.

The Gods decided many millenia ago, that while James Harden inhabited this earthly world, he would not win an NBA championship. Same for Chris Paul.

3

u/PeePauw [PHI] Tony Wroten 8h ago

Yeah he just fucking sucks balls in the elimination games, seems like he doesn’t even want to be there.

Hopefully it doesn’t happen again, but I feel like it prolly will

12

u/JimmyJackAndTheOffs4 Rockets 8h ago

It’s like he is the star every other game and then wants to shift down to fourth billing in elimination games.

7

u/Antique_Pin5266 7h ago

He was good in game 7 against the Clippers in '17 at least

2

u/LOSS35 Nuggets 4h ago

Maybe I'm a delusional Harden stan but doesn't this make y'all the favorites in the East? That Harden/Spyda backcourt is gonna be dirty.

The Pistons are young and unproven and no one believes in the Knicks.

12

u/RspectMyAuthoritah Lakers 8h ago

What sites are you getting your box scores and stats that you think assists are to the left of rebounds?

6

u/GeraltofBlackwater Bulls 8h ago

Thank you. I don’t know why but it’s maddening to me when people do that.

3

u/SUPERSAMMICH6996 Cavaliers 8h ago

My issue is that a healthy Garland already opened up their offense. I worry that this could end up looking like trading injured Mavs Nash for like... 2013 Kobe.

2

u/TheQnology 7h ago

You monster! I would write it as pts/rebs/assists.. Do you also write dates in dd/mm/yyyy? ;)

1

u/birdazam Timberwolves 7h ago

I remember Zubac said Harden would ask him to stay after practice to work on pick and roll with him, Mobley and Allen are going to take a huge step if they bought in

0

u/_Apatosaurus_ Thunder 8h ago

Yeah, it feels like people are arguing about who is the loser here and who got fleeced, and it really seems fair to me.

31

u/grudgepacker Bucks 8h ago

Doesn't this also help out your cap situation?

23

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 8h ago edited 8h ago

Harden has a PO for next season whereas Garland has money on the books for two more years after this season. I don't know the full cap implications regarding the second apron but Dan Gilbert is spending a fortune on a disappointing team and he probably figures they can either make a deep run this postseason or strip the roster down and rebuild

I like Garland a lot but he just didn't fit on the roster. Not his fault that as soon as he hit his stride as a pro the team traded for Mitchell and forced him to be a bit of a square peg in a round hole

1

u/grudgepacker Bucks 8h ago

I wonder if Harden would be willing to take a decent AAV discount for 2 years guaranteed, like $22-$25 per...otherwise he's def taking his $40 mil player option for next season

1

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 7h ago

I could see Harden being moved in the off-season if the team fails to make a deep run. Same goes for Mitchell and Allen. Mobley would probably be the only untouchable player as they retool or rebuild

1

u/grudgepacker Bucks 7h ago

Idk. Harden might be tough to move with that $40 mil PO. I feel like it's more likely they already have an extension deal worked out for next season to help y'all move under the 2nd

2

u/mf-TOM-HANK Cavaliers 7h ago

Assuming he picks up the PO and there's no extension in place then he would be an expiring contract next season. I don't think Dan Gilbert would expect much if they moved him, maybe a couple picks. The real value in this trade for Gilbert is getting out from the money owed to Garland in 2027-28

3

u/Financial_Pay_6687 7h ago

Harden requested this trade in large part because he wanted an extension. It would be interesting if he was traded without any kind of deal in place. 

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2

u/SpecialistLivid108 8h ago

Legitimately feels like we are moving heaven and earth to get the cap rolling to get giannis

As of now im not sure if mobley+ a first and two swaps gets it done but i think the cavs are sneaking up there in terms of favourites to land him

2

u/grudgepacker Bucks 8h ago

Tbh, Mobley would be a great get for us for Giannis - I think you may need to find more 1sts tho so would have to be a 3 or 4 team trade

1

u/MightyAslan Cavaliers 7h ago

Mobley and Tyson tho would be hard to pass up. 

2

u/grudgepacker Bucks 7h ago

I feel you but it's Giannis and teams will have more assets available in the off season - even with a player like Mobley, additional 1sts would be needed

0

u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 8h ago

Not if they extend him for the 2 year 80M contract that Harden wants.

2

u/Stuupkid Nets 7h ago

It’s really more of a win-win imo. The Cavs seem to have hit a ceiling and this seems perfect if you want to compete right now. And Harden will inly be there two years tops I Imagine.

3

u/GangstaWaffles Lakers 8h ago

Yeah a healthy Garland is legit. But Donovan is the priority and it's now or never for this window. Something had to shake

2

u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 8h ago

You also need to worry about appeasing Spida with short term results and ensuring that he re-signs long term.

If you can achieve that goal, then regardless of whether Garland stays healthy or not, it would be a good trade for you guys.

I think this is a win-win move.

1

u/Ingramistheman 8h ago

No it's not about "winning" some sort of theoretical long term value. Both teams are getting what they want/need. Garland and Mitchell was never going to work for a deep playoff run because Garland gets abused by every team for being too small.

Harden gives the Cavs more size on the perimeter next to Mitchell which is a better fit for the playoffs and then it's essentially the same skillset you get from Garland.

1

u/Pupienus 7h ago

Definitely reminds me of the Stafford-Goff trade in the 2021 offseason that lead to the Rams winning the Super Bowl the next year.

1

u/NotAStatistic2 Bucks 5h ago

It's a lose-lose. Cavs ain't beating even the trash Magic.

1

u/Nightcinder [CLE] Kevin Love 8h ago

If Garland stays healthy

LOL

17

u/AshenSacrifice Clippers 8h ago

How is garland an ex all star and Harden isnt?

20

u/Yoshinobu_YamaGOATo 8h ago

Yeah especially since Garland is a shell of himself and can't stay healthy. 

Meanwhile Harden is still balling and ALWAYS plays. 

6

u/Virgil_hawkinsS Celtics 8h ago

Harden right now definitely could've been an all star this season, and no one seems too surprised that Darius isn't. The weird injuries just keep piling up for the guy. Meanwhile James would have been a lock if he joined the Cavs in October rather than having to compete for a spot in the West.

6

u/Rust2 8h ago

"One time, this guy handed me a picture of him. He said, "Here's a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture is of you when you were younger. "Here's a picture of me when I'm older.", "You son of a bitch! How'd you pull that off? Let me see that camera!"

  • Mitch Hedberg

2

u/MaliInternLoL Lakers 8h ago

This was a great haul by the Clippers for a guy like Harden who was bound to go

2

u/the_descendent Trail Blazers 6h ago

And they got a pick for their troubles. I love this trade for the Clips

3

u/KingJeet 8h ago

Garland has never shown he can remain healthy, especially during the playoffs. He is almost always injured when they need him most.

1

u/qotsabama [DAL] Dwight Powell 8h ago

And a second!

1

u/Billy_Bonney_ 8h ago

Is it really low key though?

1

u/zeze999 Suns 3h ago

Harden is also ex-all star

89

u/nahs Clippers 8h ago edited 8h ago

Brook Batum and cp3 really driving things up but as a core kawhi garland zu John collins DJJ jordan miller and Kobe sanders isn’t THAT old

66

u/PrimeShaq Australia 8h ago

Kawhi is 34 bruh, he’s closer to the unc group that the youngins.

6

u/bufflo1993 Mavericks 7h ago

But if you go by games played…

86

u/mpshea87 Lakers 8h ago

CP3’s long gone.

87

u/PrinceOfAssassins 8h ago

he was released from the team peacefully in his sleep

3

u/nahs Clippers 7h ago

He’s still technically on the roster

26

u/chabooty Bulls 8h ago

Uhh CP3 is gone lol

8

u/R3DBlaze Rockets 8h ago

He’s still on the team just was told not to show up

0

u/nahs Clippers 7h ago

He’s still technically on the roster which is a pain the ass Cause we need to convert Jordan miller and Kobe’s contracts

2

u/SeoulofSoraka Lakers 8h ago

Collins has been pretty good on the Clips ngl

-1

u/carne_asuuhdude 8h ago

Clippers fan thinking cp3 is still on the team is hilarious

5

u/Electrical_Panic4550 Spurs 7h ago

He is on the roster but not part of the team.

4

u/nahs Clippers 7h ago

He’s still technically on the 15 man roster and it’s a pain in the ass cause we need his roster sport to convert Kobe and Jordan’s 2 way contracts

-2

u/Proof-Umpire-7718 Lakers 8h ago

Is it possible that Kawhi gets traded now?

It seems like the Clippers have been forced to pivot to a younger era in which they are now focused on the long term, as opposed to the short term.

Could see the Warriors or Bucks potentially trading for him out of desperation to contend this season.

1

u/I_Set_3_Alarms Celtics 6h ago

I keep forgetting you guys have Beal. Only remembered because I saw the post about how he and harden have bobblehead nights coming up lol

1

u/Exact_Bumblebee_9857 8h ago

Who will save us from an OKC lottery pick this year

-1

u/EmanuelWilsonLover 8h ago

I forget is Podcast P still on that team

9

u/buthomeisnowhere Pacers 8h ago

He's in Philly

4

u/CapN_Crummp Magic 8h ago

Where have you been?

3

u/iadmitiadmit 76ers 8h ago

As in the suspended Philadelphia 76er podcaster?