The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a deal to acquire James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers, sending Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick in return.
Cleveland originally looked to receive draft assets in the talks, but the final agreement resulted in the Cavaliers including a pick instead.
Harden and the Clippers had been working toward a separation over the past several days.
He re-signed with Los Angeles last offseason on a two-year, $81.5 million contract and agreed to waive most of his $2.3 million bonus in order to make the trade to Cleveland possible.
This move marks another stop in Harden’s well-traveled career.
He was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets in 2012, from Houston to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, from Brooklyn to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022, from Philadelphia to the Clippers in 2023, and now from the Clippers to the Cavaliers in 2026.
Garland is currently sidelined with a toe injury and has not played since January 14. He has appeared in 26 games this season, posting a PER of 15.2, down from 19.6 last year when he earned an All-Star selection.
Garland remains under contract through the 2027-28 season after signing a five-year, $193 million extension with Cleveland in 2022.
Cavaliers Acquire James Harden From Clippers For Darius Garland, 2nd Rounder https://t.co/RU7FSGjvq8
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 4, 2026
