One of the most unexpected and impactful negotiations of the trade deadline NBA was confirmed: James Hardendo LA Clipperswas changed to Cleveland Cavaliers by Darius Garland and a second-round pick, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
MVP in 2017-18, four-time league scorer and 11-time All-Star, Harden requested a trade to the Clippers a few weeks ago, and sat out the team’s last games for ‘personal reasons’.
However, ‘Barba’ never won a championship. The only final he played in was in his third season as a professional, in 2011-12, still at Oklahoma City Thunderwhen he was defeated by Miami Heat of LeBron James by 4 to 1.
Since then, despite impactful passages through Houston Rockets (mainly), Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers e LA ClippersHarden at most reached two Western Conference finals, both with the Rockets. And all the team exit processes were disrupted.
Now at the Cavs, the star will have another chance to win the title, joining a ready squad that has been competing in the Eastern Conference for two seasons. Next to Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and company, Harden will have little time to adapt, but he arrives in a qualified and experienced team, despite frustrating defeats in the last playoffs.
On the court, your mission will be to share the team’s organization with Donovan Mitchell. On the one hand, the Cavs gain a player ready to immediately replace the roles that were previously Darius Garlanda frequent absence from last year to now due to numerous injuries.
On the other hand, a piece arrives that could change the way the Cavs play, which perhaps creates some friction just two months before the playoffs. Harden, before arriving at the Clippers, already said that he doesn’t adapt to the teams’ systems, since ‘he is the system’. In a team already fit, despite far from the best moment, and with a clear star in Donovan Mitchellperhaps a greater adaptation is needed than just a few weeks of the regular season.
Still, it’s a very clear bet in search of the title. For the Clippers in 2025-26, in the 44 games he played, Harden averages 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists, shooting 34% from the perimeter in 35 minutes on the court. It’s difficult to say no to the arrival of a player with those numbers and experience, something that the Cavs, despite all the quality of their squad, still don’t have.
Financially, the switch is simple. Harden has a salary of 39 million dollars, with player option (when the player chooses whether to renew or not) of 42 million for the next season. Garland also has a contract worth 39 million, which will reach 44 million in 2027-28.
On the Clippers’ side, the team is able to make a last-minute change without being left empty-handed, something that could happen if Harden decided not to renew at the end of the season.
With an aging squad, the Los Angeles franchise has most of its players under contract until the 2026-27 season, to start a new cycle in 2027-28. Garland’s arrival, with a three-year contract, breaks the strategy a bit, but the bet remains valid, as the point guard is still 26 years old and has put in good numbers, despite frequent injuries in recent months.
In addition to Harden, last Saturday the Cavs also landed Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellisdo Sacramento Kingsin exchange for De’Andre Hunterreinforcing the playmaking and defense on the wings, some of the main needs of the team that is only in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, with 30 wins and 21 losses.
