The NBA trade deadline is almost here. February 5 is just around the corner, and teams across the league are making every effort to make their final moves before the window slams shut.
We’ve already seen some massive deals go down, like the one that shipped Jaren Jackson Jr. off to the Utah Jazz. Now we have got another blockbuster on our hands. This time, it’s the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers who have shaken things up in a major way.
Trade Details Of James Harden’s Move to Cavaliers
ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania recently revealed on his X that the Clippers are sending their 11-time All-Star guard James Harden to Cleveland. In return, LA is getting Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
This news comes literally one day after Charania reported that the Clippers and Harden were having discussions about whether they could work something out before Thursday’s deadline.
Harden joined the league when the Oklahoma City Thunder picked him third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. He has been making waves ever since. He joined the Clippers in 2023 after coming over from the Philadelphia 76ers. This season, he has been averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Despite Harden’s strong performance, the Clippers haven’t been doing so well. They’re sitting at 23-26, which is pretty disappointing for a team with championship aspirations.
For weeks now, there have been whispers about Harden potentially leaving LA. Things got really suspicious when he missed the last two Clippers games against the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. The injury report listed him out for “personal reasons,” which obviously got everyone talking. Now we know why.
According to Charania, this move could be huge for Cleveland. He believes that bringing Harden into the fold gives the Cavaliers a much better shot at winning a championship.
“For the Cavaliers, acquiring one of the NBA’s greatest 75 players has ability to elevate the team ceiling as they continue to contend for a title out of the Eastern Conference. It aligns two high-powered, multi-faceted engines in Harden and Donovan Mitchell,” Charania wrote on X.
For the Cavaliers, acquiring one of the NBA’s greatest 75 players has ability to elevate the team ceiling as they continue to contend for a title out of the Eastern Conference. It aligns two high-powered, multi-faceted engines in Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
On the other side of the deal, Garland arrives in Los Angeles with plenty of upside. He was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers. This season, he has been averaging 18.0 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.1% from the field.
The Clippers will now rely heavily on Garland alongside Kawhi Leonard to help turn their season around and improve their overall performance.
