Overview
- Multiple major outlets report Cleveland acquires Harden, with Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick going to the Clippers.
- Harden, in his 17th season at age 36, is averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists and now joins his sixth NBA team.
- Garland, 26, has been sidelined since Jan. 14 with toe and foot issues and is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists this season.
- Trade mechanics include standard medicals and Harden waiving his one-year Bird restriction that functioned as a trade veto, so immediate debuts are uncertain.
- Cleveland seeks to pair Harden’s playmaking with Donovan Mitchell for a postseason run, while the Clippers pivot toward a younger core and long-term cap flexibility.