Harden 'sees an opportunity' with Cavs

James Harden is on the move again. In certainly the biggest trade news to drop before Thursday's deadline — Harden is Clevelandbound, with the Los Angeles Clippers agreeing to send the 11-time All-Star back to the Eastern Conference, this time to the Cavaliers, during his highest-scoring season in six years.

ESPN was first to report that the deal was finalized.

To secure the services of Harden, the Cavs are giving up point guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, said the person, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity because the trade has not yet been approved by the NBA.

That approval could come by Wednesday, when the Cavaliers and Clippers face off in Inglewood, California.

Harden is averaging 25.4 points this season, his most since averaging 34.3 points in 2019-20. He's been a huge part of the Clippers' resurgence back into playoff — or, at least, play-in — contention, following the franchise's dismal 6-21 start.

"He means a lot to our team and we've seen it the last three years,"Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Monday night when stories began breaking indicating such a move was close. "Who wouldn't want to have James Harden?"

For Harden, he sees it as a winning opportunity, telling ESPN late on Tuesday after news of the deal broke that he didn't want to feel like he was "holding the Clippers up in their future".

"I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital," Harden said, adding that he was excited to join the Cavs because "I see an opportunity to win in the East — they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So, as much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I've never won one before.

"As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit (of a) better chance."

He was keen to stress to the outlet that he did not force the move.

"That wasn't the case at all," he told ESPN.

"In life, not even just basketball, when things don't work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other. OK, maybe we just don't see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren't like that.

"At the end of the day it is a business, and I think both sides got what they wanted, are in a great place and are very happy."

Cleveland will become Harden's sixth team. He played for Oklahoma City, then Houston, then Brooklyn, then Philadelphia and, since 2023, the Clippers.

"I'm excited about Cleveland,"Harden added. "I'm still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win."

For the Cavaliers, it seems to be a move for right now — pairing the 36-year-old Harden with another star guard in Donovan Mitchell. For the Clippers, it seems to be a move with an eye on the future — the 26-year-old Garland is a two-time All-Star, averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists this season for Cleveland.

Harden opted out of the final year of his contract last summer with the Clippers to sign a new deal that would have been worth $81.5 million for this season and the 2026-27 campaign.

Next year, he could have exercised his option, which basically meant he was on a one-year contract anyway.

He got that deal after averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists and returning to the All-NBA team for the first time since 2019-20.

Teammates expressed shock at the news.

"Of course I'm surprised," Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was reported as saying in The Athletic.

"But, he's got to do what's best for him. I respect his decision, or whoever's decision it was, and that's it.

"At the end of the day, he's still going to be my boy. He's still my brother."

Elsewhere in the league, the Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly sending star forward Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz in a multi-player deal.

The Grizzlies will also receive multiple future draft picks.

The Boston Celtics acquired Chicago Bulls All-Star center Nikola Vucevic in exchange for Anfernee Simons, while the Detroit Pistons have recruited Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric in a multi-team deal involving the Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves.