On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Los Angeles Clippers took a major step toward reshaping their future by trading for Darius Garland. The deal sends 17-year NBA veteran James Harden to Cleveland while bringing a younger All-Star guard to Los Angeles.
Garland’s arrival changes the Clippers’ depth chart, timeline, and backcourt identity. With Harden gone, the Clippers move forward with a different kind of lead guard at the center of their plans.
Los Angeles Clippers Updates Depth Chart After James Harden-Darius Garland Blockbuster Trade
The Clippers acquired Garland and a 2026 second-round pick in the blockbuster trade that sent Harden to the Cavaliers. The move swaps Harden’s expiring deal for a younger, more flexible asset as Los Angeles adjusts both its roster and long-term direction.
Garland, a 26-year-old guard, replaces the 36-year-old Harden, immediately lowering the average age of a Clippers team that was the league’s oldest before the trade. Garland earns $39 million this season, similar to Harden’s salary, but he is under contract through 2028 for a total of $87 million, a figure viewed as movable if needed.
The deal also follows Harden waiving key contract protections to make the trade possible, including his implicit no-trade clause and most of his $2.3 million trade bonus.
With Garland now in the mix, the Clippers’ depth chart shifts across multiple positions.
- Point Guard: Darius Garland | Kris Dunn | TyTy Washington Jr.
- Shooting Guard: Bradley Beal | Kris Dunn | Kobe Sanders | Jordan Miller | Cam Christie
- Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard | Derrick Jones Jr. | Kobe Sanders | Bogdan Bogdanović | Jordan Miller
- Power Forward: John Collins | | Nicolas Batum | Derrick Jones Jr. | Kobe Brown.
- Center: Ivica Zubac | Brook Lopez | John Collins | Yanic
Garland was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and spent his entire career with Cleveland. He became a two-time All-Star with the Cavaliers and helped the team reach the playoffs thrice during his tenure.
He also made franchise history in Cleveland, becoming the fourth player in team history to score 50 or more points in a game with a 51-point outing against Minnesota on Nov. 13, 2022. Garland is also the fastest player to reach 500 three-pointers in Cavaliers history.
This season, Garland is averaging 18.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. He has played 26 games so far.
That said, Garland’s playmaking fits Ty Lue’s system as a guard who can create open looks for Kawhi Leonard, particularly in the mid-range and on corner threes. His presence also allows Leonard, now 34, to spend less time handling the ball, helping preserve his workload.
The Clippers had surged recently, rebounding from a 6–21 start to go 15–3 over an 18-game stretch, with Harden playing a major role as the team’s assists leader. Los Angeles is now 23–26, ninth in the Western Conference, and holding a play-in spot.
Garland will need to carry that momentum forward once healthy. He has been sidelined since Jan. 14, 2026, with a Grade 1 right great toe sprain and remains out.
With Harden gone and Garland in place, the Clippers pivot from a short-term fit to a longer-view core built around Garland, and Leonard. How quickly Garland returns and settles into his new role will shape the Clippers’ push through the rest of the season.
