It’s official now.
The Cavaliers have completed their deal for James Harden, sending Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Clippers, the teams confirmed Wednesday in press releases.
The announcement came just hours before the two clubs were set to face one another in Los Angeles.
Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman and Clippers president of basketball ops Lawrence Frank both issued statements thanking the departing guards and welcoming the new additions.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the plan is for Harden to make his Cavaliers debut Saturday against Sacramento.
The deal had been trending this way for about a day. Once word surfaced that Harden and the Clippers were working together to find him a new home, Cleveland quickly emerged as the frontrunner.
To make the trade work under apron restrictions, Harden waived his one-year Bird restriction and all but eliminated his trade bonus, a necessary step to keep his salary from exceeding Garland’s.
From a basketball standpoint, the Cavs are clearly in win-now mode. Harden, despite his age, remains highly productive, averaging 24.7 points and 8.1 assists this season.
He now teams with Donovan Mitchell in a backcourt built to apply real pressure in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
For the Clippers, Garland offers a younger, long-term option at guard, assuming his toe issues don’t linger. He’s under contract through 2027-28 and eligible for an extension this offseason.
Harden’s future in Cleveland, meanwhile, remains a question worth monitoring. He holds a partially guaranteed player option for next season, and whether there were any assurances beyond this year is something only time, and the Cavs’ next moves, will answer.
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