ESPN was first to report the deal was finalised.
The Cavaliers are giving up point guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not yet been approved by the NBA.
That approval could come by Wednesday, when the Cavaliers and Clippers face off in Inglewood, California.
Harden is averaging 25.4 points this season, his most since averaging 34.3 points in 2019-20. He’s been a huge part of the Clippers’ resurgence back into playoff contention after a dismal 6-21 start.
“He means a lot to our team and we’ve seen it the last three years,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Monday night when stories began breaking indicating such a move was close. “Who wouldn’t want to have James Harden?”
Cleveland will become Harden’s sixth team. He played for Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and, since 2023, the Clippers.
For the Cavaliers, it seems to be a move for right now – pairing the 36-year-old Harden with another star guard in Donovan Mitchell.
For the Clippers, it seems to be a move with an eye on the future – the 26-year-old Garland is a two-time All-Star, averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists this season for Cleveland.
Harden opted out of the final year of his contract last summer with the Clippers to sign a new deal that would have been worth US$81.5 million for this season and the 2026-27 campaign.
He got that deal after averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists and returning to the All-NBA team for the first time since 2019-20.
News of the Harden deal came amid a flurry of reported moves on Tuesday as the NBA’s Thursday trade deadline approaches.
The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly sending star forward Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz in a multi-player deal.
Jackson’s Memphis team-mates John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. are also heading to Utah, with Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hedricks, Georges Niang going in the other direction. The Grizzlies will also receive multiple future draft picks.
The Boston Celtics are also reinforcing with the acquisition of Chicago Bulls All-Star center Nikola Vucevic in exchange for Anfernee Simons.
The pace-setting Detroit Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference, have recruited Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric in a multi-team deal involving Chicago and the Minnesota Timberwolves. (AP/AFP)
