.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Earlier in the day, I broke down why the proposed James Harden and Darius Garland trade made too much sense to not happen. It didn't take long for that deal to finalize. Those two were officially swapped on Tuesday night, drastically changing the composition of both teams.
Who made out better in the swap? Here are grades for the Cavs and Clippers.
James Harden-Darius Garland trade details
Cavs receive:
- James Harden
Clippers receive:
- Darius Garland
- Second-round pick
Cavs trade grade
The Cavs have been in a funk all year, hovering around .500 for the first half of their season. They have started to turn things around, but it’s been without Garland, who is suffering from a right toe sprain. That injury is one of many that he has fought through (it was his left toe that kept him out and limited his effectiveness last season).
Garland has had injury problems throughout his career dating back to college. He gritted his way through a broken jaw two seasons ago, leading to a poor playoff performance. His availability has become a major issue that the Cavs couldn't afford to deal with any more.
Enter James Harden, who has been a workhorse since joining the Clippers. The Beard has been the engine of Los Angeles’ offense, averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game. Not only has Harden been better than Garland this year, he’s also been much more reliable.
The Cavs need Harden this season, because the East is wide open and their window is now. Their No. 1 offense from last year has fallen to No. 8 largely due to the injuries that they’ve suffered. With a healthy Harden, they should have a great shot at getting the No. 2 seed and making a Finals run.
Trading for Harden is also a good longer-term play due to Cleveland's financial picture. He has a player option for next season that is guaranteed for only $13 million. That allows the Cavs to get off the $87 million owed to Garland over the next two seasons and get under the second apron, giving them much more flexibility this summer.
MORE: Looking at the Cavaliers lineup with James Harden
Lastly, there is a Donovan Mitchell component to this deal. Trading for Harden certainly comes with risk, but there was a greater one if they had done nothing. In that scenario, they would probably have been poised for another early playoff exit. Mitchell is eligible for a contract extension this summer and, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, would be unlikely to sign it if the team doesn't perform better in the postseason.
Harden hasn't had a ton of playoff success in the biggest moments of his career. He has put together great games in earlier rounds though, and he will have less pressure on him as the clear No. 2 behind Mitchell. The Cavs needed an elite playmaker and secondary scorer who can stay on the floor. They got one at a price that they could afford.
Cavs grade: B
Clippers trade grade
Harden helped lead a successful turnaround to the Clippers' season, but it was clear that they weren't good enough to contend with the top teams in the West. In trading for Garland, they take a step back this year but two steps forward in the future.
Garland is just hitting his prime at 26 years old. He showed some promise as the No. 1 guy before Mitchell came into town, and he could return to that form with better health. He is currently overpaid on his deal, but he could turn into a positive value contract if he can regain his form from a few years ago.
Los Angeles did well to net a second-round pick in this deal. Reporting from earlier in the day suggested that the Cavs were the ones looking for draft compensation. The Clippers realized that they had more leverage in this situation, and they flipped the tables.
The Clippers are still awaiting punishment from Kawhi Leonard's salary cap circumvention investigation, and their future is murky. For now, they are looking well-suited to build a team with a higher ceiling starting in 2027. Ivica Zubac and Garland will be the only players with guaranteed deals, giving them a ton of cap space to totally remake their roster.
MORE: Inside the storied history of James Harden trades
This is about as good of a return as Los Angeles could have expected for Harden, who didn't want to continue in Los Angeles after they wouldn't promise to re-sign him this summer. He's proven that he can be a major headache when he doesn't get the trade that he wants. Moving him prevented that nightmare scenario from playing out. He also had veto power over a trade, greatly narrowing the options available to them.
The Clippers got younger in this deal, which is the most important aspect for them. It was time to turn the page on this era of the team.
Clippers grade: B-
English (US)