We now know real reason Clippers traded James Harden to Cavaliers for Darius Garland

The Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland complete one of the biggest deals of the 2025-26 trade season.  

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Clippers agreed to trade Harden to the Clippers for Garland and a second-round pick. Shortly after Charania announced the deal, ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly explained why the Clippers made the surprising blockbuster transaction. 

“The Clippers have long been prioritizing their cap space heading into the summer of 2027, and have not been willing to give players deals beyond the 2026-27 season,” Azarly wrote. “It's the biggest reasons that both Paul George and Norman Powell are no longer on the roster.”

“Harden, who turns 37 years of age in August, had been hoping to secure a two-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $80 million after this season, sources said, but the Clippers have remained steadfast in their unwillingness to go beyond 2027.”

“On the Cleveland Cavaliers' front, the franchise had been eyeing a potential upgrade at the guard position after four seasons of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell did not yield playoff success.”

Essentially, the Clippers weren’t willing to give Harden the type of deal he was seeking, and with the 11-time All-Star still having positive trade value, Los Angeles felt compelled to move on from him now and get a dynamic asset in return. 

With the Clippers successfully parting ways with Harden in favor of Garland, they’ll no longer have to worry about potentially allowing Harden to walk in the foreseeable future without getting anything in return.

Garland, while injury-prone, is still an electric 6-foot-1 guard who has already proven he can contribute to winning in a demanding offensive role.

Simply put, the Clippers are in good hands with Garland moving forward.

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