Harden Headed Back East as Cavaliers Land Former MVP in Trade With Clippers

James Harden is on the move once again, this time heading back to the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to acquire the 11-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke Tuesday night. ESPN was first to report the trade had been finalized.

Under the deal, Cleveland will receive James Harden, while Los Angeles gets point guard Darius Garland along with a future second-round draft pick. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not yet been formally approved by the NBA.

That approval could come quickly, potentially by Wednesday night, when the Cavaliers and Clippers are scheduled to face each other in Inglewood, California.

Harden is in the midst of his highest-scoring season in six years, averaging 25.4 points per game. His offensive surge has played a major role in lifting the Clippers back into playoff, or at least play-in, contention after the team stumbled to a 6-21 start. His impact on the roster was not lost on the Clippers’ coaching staff.

“He means a lot to our team and we’ve seen it the last three years,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Monday night as reports of a potential deal began circulating. “Who wouldn’t want to have James Harden?”

For Cleveland, the move appears focused on the present. Harden, now 36, is expected to join forces with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, giving the Cavaliers a veteran playmaker with deep postseason experience. Harden’s arrival signals a clear push to contend in the short term.

The Clippers, meanwhile, take a longer view. Garland, 26, is a two-time All-Star who is averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists this season. His age and production fit more closely with a future-oriented approach for Los Angeles.

This trade will make Cleveland Harden’s sixth NBA stop. He began his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder before moving on to Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and, most recently, the Clippers, whom he joined in 2023.

Contract considerations also played a role. Harden opted out of the final year of his previous deal last summer to sign a new contract worth $81.5 million covering this season and the 2026-27 campaign, with next year at his option. He earned that deal after averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists and returning to the All-NBA team for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Now, Harden’s latest chapter begins in Cleveland, with both franchises betting that this bold swap moves them closer to their respective goals.