If there’s smoke, there’s fire. That certainly applies to the James Harden trade talk first reported Tuesday morning, as The Beard is now headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for young All-Star Darius Garland.
ESPN first broke the deal, which also includes the Cavs sending a second-round draft pick to the Clippers in exchange for one of the NBA’s all-time great scorers. Reports indicate the Clippers wanted a first-round selection but acquiesced to Cleveland sending a second-rounder instead.
Harden Gets His Way . . . Again
Evidently, the reason the one-time league MVP requested a trade was the Clippers’ reluctance to offer a contract extension. The former lottery pick is signed through this season and has a player option for next year. But with the Clippers balking at extending him, Harden reportedly chose to bail and ask for a way out of Los Angeles.
Harden, who was averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Clippers prior to being dealt, has a history of requesting trades after not receiving extension assurances. He did so with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 and again with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. Counting this trade, Harden has gotten his way every time, landing in his preferred destination each time.
Win-Win for Both Sides?
Incidentally, this trade looks like a win-win. The Cavaliers get a veteran who can help Donovan Mitchell carry the offensive load come playoff time in a wide-open Eastern Conference. The Clippers, meanwhile, add some much-needed youth to their roster and a talented one at that.
Garland has averaged at least 20 points in three seasons and was putting up 18.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists for the Cavaliers this season before getting dealt. Assuming he can get healthy, he could be the spark the Clippers need to continue their remarkable turnaround from 6-21 in December to 23-26 as of this writing.
Curiously, the Cavaliers and Clippers return to action on Thursday… against each other.
