Star guards reportedly have been swapped ahead of deadline day.
The Los Angeles Clippers are moving guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for fellow guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, multiple reports said Tuesday.
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
Rumors of the potential trade first circulated on Monday, with the two sides set to finalize the deal ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
Harden, 36, will be joining his sixth team and fourth in five years. He’s averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds on a 42/34/90 shooting split, helping the Clippers re-enter the playoff picture after an abysmal start with their roster quality.
But his three-year stint in Southern California is set to conclude on a sudden note. He has a $42 million player option next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent, and an extension in Cleveland could materialize.
As for Garland, Cleveland’s No. 5 overall pick in 2019, he’s missed some play time lately with a toe injury but has a role in the team being 30-21, good for the No. 5 seed at the time of the trade.
The 26-year-old is averaging 18 points, 6.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds on a 45/36/86 shooting split. He’ll make a new partnership with Kawhi Leonard, while Harden will team with Donovan Mitchell as Cleveland looks for a new X-factor for a hopeful postseason run.
Garland, a two-time All-Star, is in the third year of a five-year, $192 million deal that expires in 2028-29. He’ll also provide LA a win-now option while being a young face for the future.
The Cavaliers play the Clippers in LA on Wednesday night.
NBC Sports NBA Insider Grant Liffmann breaks down the Los Angeles Clippers’ options as the trade deadline nears.