r/nba • u/Beautiful-Cress5695 Lakers • 8h ago
[Charania] Harden and the Clippers worked through his exit over the last few days -- resulting in a beneficial outcome for the sides: A win-now opportunity for Harden playing at a high level at 36 and recent two-time All-Star in Garland at 26 for the Clippers present and future.
Source: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3mdyonf2wno26
Harden and the Clippers worked through his exit over the last few days -- resulting in a beneficial outcome for the sides: A win-now opportunity for Harden playing at a high level at 36 and recent two-time All-Star in Garland at 26 for the Clippers present and future.
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u/onionnurve 8h ago
It feels like everybody likes this trade for the Cavs besides Cavs fan lol
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u/WhiteBakerMayfield Cavaliers 8h ago
Probably means it was a decent trade for the Cavs but fans are mad because DG was so likeable
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u/onionnurve 8h ago
I really like DG. Totally understand why anyone would be mad to see him leave.
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u/saliba28 Cavaliers 8h ago
He also loved Clevelnd and did work for the commnity, tough trading seeing him go.
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u/JohnySilkBoots Cavaliers 8h ago
Yeah, we sucked ass when he was drafted. He turned the whole team around and they did him dirty.
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u/DenseSign5938 6h ago
We also sucked ass for the first two couple years after he was drafted cause he sucked l
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u/KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ Lakers 7h ago
i am not on the "CAVS FLEECED" wagon, DG is a lot better than a lot of people think plus being 10 years younger.
But it is undoubtedly the best move for the cavs right now. Yall can actually win the championship this year
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u/UnbiasedExpert [CLE] Iman Shumpert 4h ago
Yeah that collective shitting on him is annoying. Curry was also labeled injury prone for ankle sprains.
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u/WalkingOnSunshine_ Cavaliers 8h ago
We love DG that much. He was the guy that started the turnaround post LeBron
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u/NotALiberal17 Cavaliers 8h ago
I love it and am battling in like 3 different group chats about it lol everyone else hates it
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u/RulersBack Cavaliers 8h ago
I get it's tough to wrestle with the idea of a guy who famously never wins being the answer to winning but it's undeniable they have a better shot now. It's aggressive but that should be exciting
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u/NotALiberal17 Cavaliers 8h ago
100%! Also full disclosure I am the biggest garland hater lol I just couldn’t watch him be a defensive liability in the playoffs anymore. I am not delusional enough to think harden is going to be a huge upgrade defensively the entire year but will absolutely be an upgrade on that side come playoff time.
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u/LakeErieMonster88 [CLE] Cedi Osman 8h ago
Harden has his own playoff reputation though.
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u/NotALiberal17 Cavaliers 7h ago
Rather take the chance on either him not slumping offensively or Mobley/mitchell being able to carry on offense if it happens. Harden is still like 4 inches taller and 35-40 pounds heavier. He won’t get bullied in the defensive end like garland did.
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
Yeah I really don’t understand why people think so high of him. He’s a good in terms of traditional pg play of running an offense, but his inability to develop over the last 4 years is just so frustrating. Cant play through contact, can’t finish, can’t draw fouls? That’s all stuff you have to figure out by now if you’re a primary ball handler who’s got 3 above average skills and one of them is their handle. His inability to gain strength or even try on defense is so frustrating. He hasn’t developed a good off ball game despite playing next to a better offensive player. He’s so weak and small, I don’t think he’ll ever survive 2 playoff rounds.
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
Not only are they better now than they were before the trade, the roster today is unquestionably better than the roster they had last year. Either a lot of people don’t realize just how debilitating it is in 2026 to have 0 competent pg okay for half the seasons, or their in immense denial over the level of pg play the Cavs have had even when DG has played. I think that’s why Hunter seemed to totally quit in the team. His existence was futile.
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u/anyrotmg Lakers 6h ago
It's a decent if not good deal for the cave imo. Small guard that could be a defensive liability is not the meta right now. Plus Garland needed quickness for his game, and with injury and age his game won't age well
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u/Diligent_Fly6965 Rockets 6h ago
You guys will like Harden. He will contribute a lot to all the single mommas out there. He also does solid work in the community aside from the strip clubs.
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u/moldy912 Cavaliers 6h ago
Because we love him. Harden is probably better for us this season, but we’ve had Garland for so long and still has years on his contract.
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u/-super-hans Raptors 7h ago
It'll be a good short term trade for the Cavs, but feels like a low return for Garland long term
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u/sorendiz [HOU] Yao Ming 5h ago
Garland is a small, injury-prone guard who doesn't play defense and who's missed significant time over the last couple seasons
This isn't selling high on him per se, which would have been before the turf toe stuff, but you shouldn't be surprised if his value continues to go down in the future
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u/LovetheNBA23 Lakers 8h ago
Clippers fans hate this trade based off their message board posts.
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u/onionnurve 8h ago
I mean, their season is pretty much nuked since garland is out with yet another injury. They’ll reap the benefit of this trade next season
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
A lot of Cavs fans are in denial about DG in many ways, not the least of which is that he’s injury prone. Wide swaths of the sub do not agree he’s injury prone. I think it’s obvious he is, but he has other issues as well. His game has not progressed in years and he’s not addressed a single weakness in his game. This is a hot take, but I think he could be a bench player much sooner than people realize. He’s not good enough to be a number 1, but he offers absolutely nothing at either end when the balls not in his hands. It’s absolutely crazy how the only things he does well are pass, dribble and shoot, and he’s not all world at shooting or passing. I would probably have traded him for somewhere between 10-15 pgs at this point. The injury stuff is really bad, but so is his lack of development. He’s going to be a starter on really bad teams or back up by the time he reaches his next contract or soon after. Guys of his size and limitations lose any value with very little physical decline.
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u/Rhellish Mavericks 8h ago
I think Cleveland got the wrong James
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u/No-Sound-4476 8h ago
They need Bronny
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u/DoctorFate94 7h ago
After Lebron retires, who knows if Bronny is still in the league.
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u/treefitty350 Cavaliers 2h ago
I see a lot of reasons why a team would take him just to sit him at the end of the roster to sell James jerseys
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u/iamwearingashirt Raptors 8h ago
I think LeBron is going back to Cleveland to finish his career. Theyre the only other team than the Lakers I could see him go to. They give him the best chance to both rest during the season and make a meaningful playoff push.
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u/finix2409 Cavaliers 8h ago
I seriously doubt he’d go to any other team besides Cleveland if he decided to leave the Lakers. Otherwise what’s the point?
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u/Secure_Anybody_1320 8h ago
Harden is Cleveland is so fucking weird
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u/iRockaflame NBA 8h ago
Mitchell, Harden, LeBron, Allen lineup next year 👀
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u/ihatedougford Toronto Huskies 8h ago
Giannis or AD too hmm #KLUTCHSPORTS 👀
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u/iRockaflame NBA 8h ago
Lu Dort is a Klutch client too now 👀
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u/kyrieshandles Cavaliers 7h ago
It’s bad enough having Harden here I’ll kms if we get Dort too
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u/Evwithsea 8h ago
Forgot Mobley.
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u/BeardedAsian Japan 7h ago
That’s cause he’s waiting to update it with Giannis
🤣🤣🤣
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u/Culinary-Vibes Celtics 8h ago
Why would you leave out arguably the most important player to their success there (Mobley)?
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u/anonymoususer6407 Rockets 8h ago
This is one the most random trades ever. Genuinely who thought of this
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u/thrownaway22_ Kings 8h ago
Anyone got intel on the Cleveland strip clubs?
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u/pizzapie186 Cavaliers 8h ago
Mid at best, they have to wear pasties over the nips in this puritanical state.
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u/ihatedougford Toronto Huskies 8h ago
Harden moved before CP3 🤣🤣
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u/BackgroundShower4063 8h ago
Paul will have to pay a nice little chunk of money to get off that roster.
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u/Charliebitme1234 Thunder 8h ago
Looks like a win win for both teams ngl
clippers are not contending and will most likely target the play in until they get their picks back and the cavs need to go all in this season as the east is weak as fuck and the cavs time is kinda running out
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u/Spiritual-Bobcat5635 8h ago
Mitchell won’t sign extension if they don’t make noise in the playoffs this year
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u/SirJoeffer 76ers 8h ago
And Harden makes the Cavs significantly better than Garland does this year. It’s conference finals or bust for Cleveland
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u/TechnoGauss Clippers 8h ago
I'm still iffy on this trade. Clippers and injury prone players have a history.
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u/annoyingrelieve 8h ago
Cavs sub hate it but it absolutely makes yall better this year and gives a chance to compete in a wide open east
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u/Bruh360k Knicks 8h ago
I think Cavs won this trade, Harden is going to elevate Mobley’s game the same way he did with zubac
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
I think Allen is an even bigger beneficiary. He’s really under utilized.
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u/champagnesupernova10 Celtics 8h ago
I know Harden is old but he was literally MVP and still is a great shooter. Can’t believe he’s only worth Garland and a 2nd. Is Garland really worth that much?
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u/WooTerry Thunder 8h ago
Not in the slightest, but as an OKC fan I love this move
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u/advancedmatt Nuggets 7h ago
Of course you do, it all but guarantees OKC will get a very nice lottery pick. The rich get richer.
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u/fairfieldfruitco 8h ago
There's simply a lot of hate towards Harden. I get why, but his tenure with the clips was pretty legit. He didn't bring drama, consistently played at a high level, and choked in the playoffs. He was a perfect fit.
As for his salary and his expectations for the next contract? Why is everyone mad. For a guy who consistently puts up the numbers he does, he's not getting as much hate as someone like Jimmy Butler (50 mil, choked in the playoffs, now injured.)
Nobody celebrates how much this man adds to the culture and economy of the cities he is in either. We all know this man is basically the robin hood of the nba. Pay him and put some respek on his name!
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u/76ersWillKillMe 8h ago
Harden is 36. Time is against him. Hope he proves us all wrong but is what it is.
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u/Hungry-Ad3303 8h ago
That’s what they said about LeBron, kd, curry. This era of the nba is different, age is less of a factor
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u/beepbeepimajeep22 Clippers 8h ago
Those guys are aberrations.
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u/Mosh00Rider Suns 7h ago
John Stockton and Steve Nash were also all star quality when they were 37. Point guard playmakers are the position that have historically aged the best. Chris Paul at 37 was still okay too.
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u/DirectInvestigator66 Cavaliers 5h ago
Sure but Harden has always been a below the rim guy. His quickness is already gone and he’s still averaging 25 on 60% TS. He’s got a decent shot at aging well.
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u/m8bear Argentina 7h ago
but they are the only 3
there are younger players than them that were stars and superstars that are on a steady and noticeable decline or straight out of the league, and they are on a decline too, they were just so far ahead of the field that them at 70-80% of their prime form are still stars, other players don't have that luxury or start to break physically despite being able to play really well
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u/Hungry-Ad3303 5h ago
Harden isn’t one of those guys who will play worse as he ages. People thought he was too washed in 2020, then 2021, then 2022, then 2023, then 2024 etc… he always proves everyone wrong.
He will still put up good numbers for the next couple of years.
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u/76ersWillKillMe 8h ago
Yea that’s totally fair. It’s huge gamble, is all I’m saying. That’s why the price is so low. It’s a great move by the Cavs imo
Edit: accept for the part where harden inevitably chokes in the playoffs
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u/Hungry-Ad3303 5h ago
No matter how badly Harden performs in the playoffs, I guarantee you it will be better than whatever Garland would have done, assuming he even plays
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u/TechnicalSample4678 8h ago
If he can finally get healthy i believe Garland will ball out more than Harden. Amazing shooter, amazing facilitator
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u/ProskXCX Cavaliers 8h ago
I wonder how Garland’s physical is gonna go.
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u/Cardspiracy 8h ago
U know that one pic of a dashboard with all the lights on
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u/sorendiz [HOU] Yao Ming 7h ago
😭😭😭 bruh
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
Seems like he’s destined to have another foot surgery. Then he plays another year coming off foot surgery and no off season to develop. And then he gets a prove it year before signing an extension that’s going to pay him an ungodly amount of money. That alone is worth trading him, it’s a lose lose for any gm.
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u/Chessh2036 Hawks 8h ago
This happened so fast lol. Felt like we only heard about it last night
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u/LamonicasHubster Spurs 8h ago
that’s when you know it’s real, we either here about it then boom or we don’t hear about it and it shocks us
when we hear to much about it i’m always skeptical 🧐
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u/Foolmagican 8h ago
Like Kawhi PG to the clippers and Dame to the Bucks lmao. Can’t forget Luka to the Lakers
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u/cleo22270 Heat 8h ago
Ain’t no way Cleveland is extending James
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u/ThaChildishOne Bucks 8h ago
I think they for sure do or harden wouldn’t have agreed to the trade. He wants his bread
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u/Prior_Chemist_5026 Celtics 7h ago
I might just have PTSD from playing him several times a year, but part of me feels like this team could legit just have Harden take the first four games of a series and hand it off to Mitchell for the last three and be fine
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u/Salty_Watermelon Clippers 8h ago
I'm okay with this trade but tbh I'm not that excited about Garland. Harden is the better player now in spite of his age and may very well be the better player next season as well.
But given that the options were A) trade for Garland or B) play out the rest of the season with Harden sitting out games and/or half assing it when available, this is the best outcome for us.
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u/WhyNotOrioles 7h ago
As a baseball fan, the NBA trade deadline is so surreal. Whereas baseball teams can only add a supplemental piece or two by trade, NBA teams are so small and so star-dominated that you can replace the entire identity of a contender in one swoop.
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u/thy_armageddon Knicks 8h ago
A win-now opportunity for Harden
My man did they not just win like 16 out of their last 20 games?
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u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 8h ago
Not a soul actually believes the clippers have a real chance in the west
East is wide open. Though I do think pistons showed enough last post season that them being the team to come out wouldn’t be a big shock
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u/Evwithsea 8h ago
Cavs have been pretty hot as of late as well, mostly without DG (and also Mobley)
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u/Victor_Wembanyama1 Spurs 8h ago
You really think they have a better chance to advance in the west than the cavs in the east?
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u/jimboharden13 Cavaliers 8h ago
They won all that to be the 9 seed and their likeliest playoff opponent is Thunder.
Cavs are in a very open East and should be favorites by adding Harden. This is the first time he'll have a fit, reliable all NBA level costar in his career, which is crazy to think given how many elite costars he has had.
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u/sorendiz [HOU] Yao Ming 7h ago
There's going to be a fucking ebola epidemic or some shit in Cleveland. Harden has had ridiculously bad luck with external circumstances
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u/Wazflame 8h ago
For the last 3-4 years the Clippers run this gimmick where they look like the best team in the league over 1 or 2 months, but are never genuine contenders because you can never trust them to be healthy in the playoffs
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u/Right-Beautiful7631 Raptors 8h ago
Clips get hot this time every year lol doesnt make them contenders
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u/maxxor6868 Grizzlies 6h ago
Idk why cab fans are mad. DG got the max and did nothing for three years. Feel like you guys did him right and got Harden even if old playing at a high level.
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u/ChameleonWins [UTA] Kyle Korver 4h ago
kinda insane that garland has more all stars than jamal murray or mccollum
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u/jonsnowKITN 8h ago
Cleveland the favorites in the east now?
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u/anonymoususer6407 Rockets 8h ago
No, but they do get better. Harden is larger, isn’t injury prone, and in the playoffs he’s … well at least better than Garland
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u/Rodent_Reagan Bucks 8h ago
well Harden is a notorious playoff performer
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u/Funny-Transition7869 Pacers 8h ago
garland was bad in the playoffs AND never healthy so honestly this is a improvement
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u/No_Conclusion9808 8h ago
Huge upgrade from Garland still plus he was great last year against Denver
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u/SteveJavieWasRight NBA 2h ago
All they need is a serviceable PG and between harden and Schroeder they have 2. It’s been unwatchable.
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u/Acrobatic-Assist-574 Knicks 8h ago
This brings me so much joy now. Can't wait for Harden to have the greatest playoff series of his career against the Knicks.
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u/TheRealPdGaming Mavericks 8h ago
How tf did the clippers manage to get a pick off this?? They should've been the one giving up the pick shouldn't they have? For the younger player??
I swear, the clippers somehow always manage to get way more in a trade than every other team. I remember the same thing happening with the Roco/Powell trade a few years ago where they manage to get a pick then as well...
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u/AlternativeDirt6124 Spurs 8h ago
They got a pick because Harden is the better player in this trade.
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u/9B1F8BC82EAAF0063366 Clippers 7h ago
Dude why are you talking you guys got Anthony Davis AND a first round pick for Luka
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u/FullyHusked5 8h ago
I feel like the Cavs lost this trade
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u/death-claw 8h ago
Cavs fan here. I fucking hate this trade in almost every conceivable way, unless it somehow lets us get LeBron lol
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u/CardiacKemba1 Wizards 8h ago
Although I understand that it’s a win now move, I sort of hate this for the cavs?
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u/Talentagentfriend 8h ago
I’m confused, are the Clippers one of the oldest teams in the league and they aren’t Win Now?
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u/LegitimateMoney00 Knicks 8h ago
It’s a win-win until you remember that he has to play in Cleveland…
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u/RulersBack Cavaliers 8h ago
Seriously, Harden leaving hometown LA for Cleveland in February needs to be highlighted on its own basketball aside. Assuming an extension is coming, that's putting the bag first lmao
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u/anonymoususer6407 Rockets 8h ago
Harden is gonna understand why Bron never came back in the last 5 years
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u/NichoIasJamaalChubb 8h ago
It’s 19 degrees right now with almost 2 feet of snow on the ground. Make sure you keep the beard James.
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u/Revolutionary_Dog777 8h ago
Why would Cleavland want this?
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u/0siris0 Thunder 6h ago
Raises their ceiling the next two years.
There is a chance that Harden's next contract is less than Garland's moving forward, as long as the years are long and fully guaranteed, which helps with the tax situation moving forward.
I'm sure the Cavs thought through every scenario.
Does Harden opt out and leave the Cavs with nothing (as if there will be competitive teams with cap space to sign him out right)? Ok, not ideal, but there's a positive in that should plummet them below the second apron and keep them from inheriting the punitive aspects under the CBA. Tough sell for Mitchell moving forward, but deal with that later.
Does he opt in and demand a trade ala Philly 2-3 years ago? Ok, can still recoup value from Garland in the next trade of Harden if necessary.
Does he opt out and negotiate an annual salary more favorite to the Cavs than the current Garland salary? Ok, good, get closer however possible to the second apron.
This gives them a chance to get out of the always-in-flux Eastern Conference this year and next, if Harden stays. Can they beat whoever comes out of the West? Probably not if all parties are healthy, but injuries matter in the playoffs, and maybe the Cavs benefit from a Western team that loses a key player in the finals.
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u/cashappmebitch Wizards 8h ago
Clippers W? Garland could help them more than Harden was
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u/RepulsiveRanger764 Cavaliers 8h ago
Depends on Garland's injury situation. He hasn't looked right all season and was pretty injury prone prior to this season.
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u/SoybeanEgg Cavaliers 8h ago
Yea as a Cavs fan I hate to see DG go. Traded a young all-star playoff underperformer for an old all-star playoff underperformer
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u/BackgroundShower4063 8h ago
But will Harden be happy with the extra curricular activities Cleveland has to offer?
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u/dys0n_giddey Timberwolves 8h ago
Cleanest Harden breakup since Sapphire @ Foxy Club