NBA: James Harden to join Cleveland Cavaliers as part of Darius Garland trade with LA Clippers
“As much as I wanted to stay in LA and try, I’ve never won before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a little better chance.”
Harden helped the Clippers climb the standings after a poor 6-21 start to the season, but sat out Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers as negotiations with the Cavaliers progressed.
Harden, who won the 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he had sought a trade from the Clippers.
“That wasn’t the case at all. In life, even just in basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to break up,” he said.
“Maybe we just don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we’ve just outgrown each other. Whatever the case, I feel like our situations weren’t like that.”
Over five franchises, Harden scored 28,805 points, which ranks him ninth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
The Cavaliers haven’t won a title since 2016.
Garland, 26, is averaging 18 points this season in an injury-ravaged campaign.
As part of the trade, the Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year’s draft.
The Clippers host the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before a trade can be confirmed.
2026-02-04 08:44:00
