James Harden is on the move again — and it has significant Eastern Conference ramifications.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are acquiring the high-scoring superstar from the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, according to ESPN.
Harden, 36, is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game and now joins a Cavaliers team (30-21) that is tied for fourth place in the East.
An 11-time All-Star, Harden had helped the Clippers (23-26) turn their season around after a 6-21 start.
But trade rumors began to ramp up this week amid uncertainty over Harden’s future.
Harden is in the first year of a two-year, $81.5 million contract, with the second year being a $42 million player option. He is not currently eligible for an extension, but according to The Athletic, the Clippers hope to clear salary by the summer of 2027, when Harden is set to become a free agent.
Amid the speculation, Harden was inactive for the Clippers’ games on Sunday and Monday for what the team called “personal reasons.”
“Who wouldn’t want to have James Harden?” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said Monday when asked about Harden’s future in Los Angeles.
Cleveland is set to mark the sixth stop for Harden, who also previously played for Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Most of those previous situations — including the Nets — ended unceremoniously, with Harden asking for his way out.
But Harden, in his 17th NBA season, remains a top-flight offensive weapon who should elevate Cleveland for the stretch run. Harden is now set to form a star-powered backcourt duo with shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, whose 28.8 points per game rank sixth in the NBA.
In Garland, the Clippers receive a talented, albeit undersized point guard who is still just 26. He has earned two All-Star selections, including as recently as last year, and is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.
After finishing an NBA-best 64-18 last year, the Cavaliers entered this season considered to be the Knicks’ biggest competition in the East.
But the Cavs have been something of a disappointment thus far, in part because injuries limited Garland to only 26 games. Garland last played on Jan. 14 due to a right foot issue.
Tuesday’s swap followed a trade over the weekend in which Cleveland sent forward De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.
And Cleveland isn’t the only Knicks competitor to make moves this week.
The East-leading Detroit Pistons added Kevin Huerter on Tuesday to address a shooting deficiency, while the Boston Celtics acquired veteran center Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls for a package that included guard Anfernee Simons.
The Knicks, who have been key players in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, have until Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline to make any moves.
