BREAKING NBA TRADE: Blockbuster 1-for-1 Sends James Harden to Cavaliers

James Harden felt disrespected by the LA Clippers, and wanted out. The team has now finalized a deal to send The Beard to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in return for star point guard Darius Garland.

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/5DAtLobVcb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 4, 2026

The Clippers also receive a second-round pick.

Per Shams Charania, "Harden and the Clippers worked through his exit over the last few days -- resulting in a beneficial outcome for the sides: A win-now opportunity for Harden playing at a high level at 36 and recent two-time All-Star in Garland at 26 for the Clippers present and future."

Harden is an 11-time All-Star and is averaging a six-year high 25.4 points per game this season. But he was miffed that the Clippers had no intention of handing him a new extension longer than the two-year, $82 million pact they gave him this past summer. So he wanted out.

Cavaliers make... 'win-now' move for Harden??

Some (like Charania) are calling it a "win-now" move for the Cavaliers, who give up a star guard a full decade younger than Harden. But, of course, The Beard has never won in the playoffs. He's been on a number of great teams with big plans for a championship, but he's never performed in the postseason at a satisfactory rate, enough to lead his team to a title.

He'll now give it a shot playing alongside Donovan Mitchell, putting the two ball-dominant guards together in the Cavs backcourt.

The Clippers get a young star in Garland, who is a two-time All-Star, and has averaged 18.8 points per game and 6.7 assists in his first seven years in the NBA.

And we won't have to wait long to see these two strap it on for their new teams... Like, just 24 hours, as the Cavs play the Clips in LA on Wednesday night.