Clippers send James Harden to Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland: reports

The Los Angeles Clippers have made a significant move in their quest for playoff success by trading away one of the most talented players in the league, James Harden. In exchange for the 11-time All-Star and former league MVP, the Clips are sending a young and promising point guard named Darius Garland, along with a second-round pick in 2026.

Harden's departure marks his fifth stint as a traded player, and it's surprising to see him go after having one of his best seasons recently. The Clippers had won 17 consecutive games coming out of a dismal start to the season, catapulting them into the ninth spot in the Western Conference. However, Harden has now become a part of their rotation once again.

On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to bolster their lineup with Garland's arrival. Despite struggling with injuries throughout the 2025-26 campaign, Garland still managed to put up impressive numbers and earn himself a spot on the All-Star team. His presence could help push the Cavs closer to their goal of making a deep playoff run.

Harden, meanwhile, is set to join his sixth team in a storied 17-year NBA career. The journeyman has had it all – from being drafted first overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder to winning the league MVP award with the Houston Rockets during the 2017-18 season. His latest move brings him full circle back to Cleveland, where he's expected to be paired with a young and talented core.

With this trade, the Clippers are hoping that Garland will bring some much-needed stability to their backcourt, while Harden is looking forward to finding success in his new home. It's an interesting swap, but only time will tell if it ultimately benefits both teams.

can't believe they traded away Harden, dude! I mean, i get why the clippers wanted to make a move, but i think they're making a big mistake . Harden was killing it this season and now he's off to cleveland? that's some crazy stuff. I still got my doubts about garland being able to fill harden's shoes, we'll see how it plays out . on the other hand, i think the Cavs are getting a steal with garland, he's young and talented and could bring some much needed depth to their squad . gotta keep an eye on this one, it's gonna be an interesting ride ️

I feel like we can learn a thing or two from this trade about the importance of adaptability . James Harden, on one hand, was having a great season with the Clippers and you'd think he'd want to stick around, but I guess being a team player means sometimes moving on to find what's next for you . On the other hand, Darius Garland is taking a chance on a new team and it's awesome that he's willing to take a risk for something bigger . It shows us that even when we don't know what's around the corner, we can still make moves towards growth and progress . This trade is like life itself - unpredictable, but full of opportunities if we're open to them .

omg i cant even believe what just happened!! James Harden going to the clippers is a big shakeup for the season! I think its crazy how he went from being one of the best players to having to deal with a team that's not exactly known for stability . but at the same time, Darius Garland coming to cleveland is like a breath of fresh air for them! hes been putting up so many impressive numbers despite all the injuries and hes got the skills to take their game to the next level . im curious to see how this all plays out in the playoffs

I gotta say, I'm loving the moves of the Cleveland Cavs right now ! Darius Garland was a game-changer for them last season and I think he's gonna make all the difference in their playoff run . The Clippers got a solid player in return, but I feel like they're giving up way too much by trading away Harden . He's still one of the best players in the league, no matter what team he's on . This trade is definitely gonna be interesting to watch, and I'm rooting for both teams!

I'm not sure about this trade... I mean, James Harden was just getting into a groove with the Clippers and now he's off? It reminds me of when Allen Iverson left Philly for Denver back in '09. Did they even get anything out of that deal? The Clips are giving up Darius Garland, who has a lot of promise, but is it enough to make up for what they're losing with Harden? I'm all about the nostalgia, but this trade just feels like business as usual to me...

I gotta say, this trade just goes to show how unpredictable the NBA is ! You never know what's gonna happen when you're makin' moves like this. I think about it this way - life's full of twists and turns, just like Harden's career. One minute you're on top, the next you're gettin' traded away . But that's all part of growin', right? The Clippers are hopin' Garland brings some stability to their team, but I think it's also showin' us that sometimes you gotta take a risk and let go of what's not workin' . It's like when we're stuck in a rut, we gotta be willin' to make a change and try somethin' new. Only time'll tell if this trade was the right move for both teams...

omg I'm still trying to wrap my head around this trade lol I mean Harden was killing it for the Clips and now he's gone but on the other hand Garland is super talented and could be the missing piece they need... or maybe they just needed someone else to take his place? either way it's gonna be fun to watch how this plays out the Cavs are looking up at the right time and I think Harden will actually do pretty well with them he's always been a team player, might as well find some success in Cleveland

omg I'm SHOOK about this trade!!! James Harden to Cleveland? Like what even is going on?! He just had one of the best seasons and now he's leaving for another shot at a championship? And they're sending Darius Garland, who's still super young and unproven... I mean I know the Cavs need all the help they can get, but did they have to go after Harden?

And on the other hand, the Clippers are basically selling out by giving up one of their best players for a 2nd round pick. Like what's going on with their front office? Can't they see that Garland isn't gonna be enough to replace Harden?!

I'm all about the excitement and unpredictability of the NBA season, but this trade has me like "wait, what?!"

idk about this trade lol 17 wins straight was a nice run for the clippers but harden's always been a weird fit i remember when he first came to LA and he just didn't mesh with the team they tried him out in different roles but nothing seemed to stick now he's back with his 6th team and who knows maybe this one will be the charm?

omg i just cant believe james harden is gone from the clippers they were on fire with him like 17 games straight lol and now hes off to cleveland with that young point garland idk how this will play out but im hyped for garland hopefully he can bring some stability to the Cavs' backcourt

idk about this trade lol ... i mean, garland's a talented player and all, but he's basically being sent to cleveland as a warm body to fill a gap, right? and harden's not exactly the most stable guy in the league either. what are the clippers thinking here? did they just want to get rid of some salary cap space or something?

and how do we know garland's gonna be able to bring stability to the backcourt? has he shown that in his career already? i need more info on this one before i can even start speculating about what might happen next . source, please!

omg did u see dis?? they actually traded james harden ! i mean i love darius garland too, but harden was killin' it for the clippers just last season... 17 straight wins is crazy . and now he's off to cleveland again . i'm curious to see how this all plays out tho . do u think the clippers made a good trade? are they sacrificing too much or did they need a change in their backcourt? let me know!

I'm a bit surprised about this trade . I think Darius Garland has huge potential and could've been the key to the Clippers' playoff push. But at the same time, James Harden is still an elite player and I don't want to see him lose his mojo . The Cavs are definitely looking for a sparkplug on offense, and Garland seems like just the guy . Meanwhile, Harden's been having some great years lately, so it'll be interesting to see how this new chapter in Cleveland plays out . One thing's for sure, both teams are taking a bit of a risk here... but that's what makes basketball so unpredictable .

I don't trust these trades . One minute the Clippers are up and down, winning 17 games straight and then they just give away Harden? It doesn't add up. And what about Garland? I mean, he's good and all, but is he really worth a guy like James Harden? The Cavs thought they were getting a steal, but what if this is just another team tanking for a top pick? And Harden, dude's been in the league forever. What's next? Is he gonna start taking care of grandma or something?

Ugh, another trade that's gonna be a total nightmare for the Clippers fanbase . I mean, I get it, they wanted to make a move and all, but trading away James Harden was a huge risk . That guy's been on a roll lately and now he's gotta start over with another team? Garland's cool and all, but he's not gonna fill the void left by Harden in LA .

And what's up with the Clippers' management? They're like, "Hey, we'll just send our young point guard to Cleveland for a veteran player" . It's all about short-term gains, I guess . But what about long-term stability? They're gonna have to rebuild their team again in a few years .

This trade is gonna be super fun to watch... said no one ever .

I'm low-key shook by this trade lol! I mean, James Harden was on fire and now he's off to Cleveland? The Cavs need him bad, and with Darius Garland coming in, they might just have the spark to make a deep run . On the other hand, I love how the Clippers are shaking things up - Garland is gonna bring some much-needed youth energy to their squad . But man, this trade has me wondering if the Clips were trying to sabotage themselves by giving away one of their best players . Harden's gotta be stoked to join a team that needs him though - it'll be cool to see him back in Cleveland

The NBA is always full of surprises! I'm still trying to process the trade that sent James Harden away from the LA Clippers... what a shock! I mean, he was on fire coming out of the gate and had the team on a roll. Now, he's back in Cleveland with some young talent, like Darius Garland. It's gonna be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I'm kinda sad for the Clips, though... they were doing so well without Harden. But, you know, change can be good, right? Maybe Garland will bring that stability to their backcourt and help them make a deeper playoff run. The Cavs need some solid play from Garland to make a push, but I got my fingers crossed for them too!

This trade has me wondering what this says about the state of the league and player movement . You've got a guy like James Harden, who's been a superstar for years, getting traded around like he's nobody special. Meanwhile, Darius Garland gets sent out to Cleveland with a second-round pick, basically being used as a sacrificial lamb . It's like the Clippers are saying, "Hey, we're good without Harden" . But what about all the fans who invested in him and his legacy? Don't they deserve some stability on their roster?

And let's not forget about the Cavs' motivations here. Are they trying to make a deep playoff run by throwing Garland into the fire, or are they just trying to get rid of his contract so they can free up cap space? Either way, it feels like they're playing the short game . I'm curious to see how this all plays out and whether either team comes out on top in this deal

I'm low-key shocked by this trade ! James Harden is one of the most clutch players I've ever seen, and now he's being shipped out for Darius Garland? I get why the Clippers wanted to shake things up, but I think they might be making a huge mistake . Garland is an amazing player, don't get me wrong, but he's still so young and inexperienced. Can he handle playing alongside Harden? And what about all those injuries he had this season? Is that something that'll carry over to LA?

On the other hand, I'm stoked for Cleveland! The Cavs are due for a comeback, and Garland is just the spark they need . He's already an All-Star, and with his talents paired with Donovan Mitchell and others, they've got the firepower to go all the way.

I think this trade has all the makings of a classic NBA swap - a lot of hype, a lot of talent involved ... but it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out in the long run .