The Los Angeles Clippers struck a big blow Tuesday as the NBA trade deadline approached, sending veteran James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for young star player Darius Garland.
Harden, a 36-year-old point guard crowned the league’s best player in 2018, is going to Cleveland in exchange for an all-star point guard, ten years his junior, and a second-round draft pick, according to the ESPN network.
This transaction is considered advantageous for both clubs: Harden joins a Cleveland team well positioned to qualify for the playoffs this season, while the Clippers welcome Garland, 26, in view of the future, and in particular the probable non-extension of their other star, Kawhi Leonard, after 2027.
The arrival of Harden gives the Cavaliers a new powerful offensive weapon in addition to leader Donovan Mitchell, alongside Evan Mobley, defender of the year 2025, and Jarrett Allen, trying to conquer the title after failing in the Conference semi-finals in the past two seasons.
Harden, who has never won the title, is averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game this season.
This will be the sixth NBA franchise of “The Beard’s” career after the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia Sixers and the Clippers.
The news of Harden’s transfer was announced by the press on Tuesday, as trades multiply before the NBA transfer deadline, set for Thursday.
Among these transactions, the Boston Celtics strengthened themselves internally with the acquisition of Chicago Bulls pivot, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic, in exchange for point guard Anfernee Simons.
