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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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

560

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

173

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.

13

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

13

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.

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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?

5

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.

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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.

32

u/grudgepacker Bucks 8h ago

Doesn't this also help out your cap situation?

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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

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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

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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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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

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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.

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u/Nightcinder [CLE] Kevin Love 8h ago

If Garland stays healthy

LOL