James Harden is poised to join the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers, with Darius Garland moving the other way after the teams agreed a trade on Sunday, subject to NBA approval and medicals.
Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and one of the most prolific guards of his generation, yet remains without an NBA title. He said the chance to contend in the Eastern Conference was decisive in choosing Cleveland.
“I see an opportunity to win in the East. They got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above,” Harden told ESPN. “As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference as they push for a play-off spot. The Clippers sit ninth in the West. Harden has helped Los Angeles recover from a 6–21 start this season but sat out Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers as discussions with Cleveland advanced.
Harden, who won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2018 with the Houston Rockets, rejected suggestions that he requested a trade.
“That wasn’t the case at all,” he said. “In life, not even just basketball, when things don’t work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other. Maybe we just don’t see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren’t like that.”
Across five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 career points, ninth on the NBA’s all-time list. Cleveland have not won a championship since 2016.
Garland, 26, is averaging 18 points per game this season in a campaign disrupted by injury. As part of the deal, the Clippers will also receive a second-round pick in this year’s draft.
The teams are scheduled to meet in Los Angeles on Wednesday, though both Harden and Garland must pass medical examinations before the trade is finalised.
