James Harden is moving to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Los Angeles Clippers traded him Tuesday for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
The transaction was announced by ESPN reporter Shams Charania in the middle of the evening.
Harden, a 36-year-old star player, is under contract for $39.2 million this season and has a $42.3 million option for next season. Since the length of his contract is technically a single season, Harden could veto a possible trade, according to explanations from Bobby Marks of ESPN.
Harden missed the Clippers’ last two games for what the team called “personal reasons.”
Harden is having a great season averaging 25.4 points per game, his best average since his last full season with the Houston Rockets in 2019-20. He also averages 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.
The veteran was acquired by the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 and he helped the team reach the playoffs the past two seasons. The Clippers, however, have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs on each occasion.
Harden has been invited to 11 All-Star Games during his 17-season career and earned NBA MVP honors in 2017-18, but has never won a championship.
