Inside Clippers, James Harden’s sudden trade talks days before deadline

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel also contributed to this report.

INGLEWOOD — The LA Clippers are in advanced trade talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers for James Harden for guard Darius Garland, league sources have told ClutchPoints. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix was the first to report the rumored trade of Harden for Garland.

Amid ongoing discussions, the Cavs have indicated that they would want additional draft compensation for Garland. League sources said Cleveland’s request of a future draft pick from the Clippers was denied. It is believed the Cavs inquired about the Clippers’ 2030 first-round pick.

James Harden and the Clippers have been in active trade talks for multiple weeks, sources said, with the Clippers working with Harden on potential trade destinations for the 36-year-old guard. The team hasn’t wanted to trade Harden, especially with the team’s recent stretch of success. This request from Harden came as a surprise to the organization, given how they have turned their season around.

Over their last 21 games, the Clippers have gone 17-4, including a 128-113 loss at home on Monday night to the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden did not play in this game, nor did he play on Sunday night on the road against the Phoenix Suns, due to what the team was labeling as “personal reasons.”

The guard has remained in the team’s lineup and played in almost all of LA’s games during these discussions, but there has been an understanding from both parties that there would be attempts to facilitate a deal by the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.

While the Clippers and Cavs trade talks have reached a new advanced stage, the deal is not yet done, per source, and there remains a chance that Harden remains with the team past the deadline. There is a real scenario where both sides will need to revisit trade talks in the summer should a deal not be finalized before Thursday.

Harden, currently on a two-year, $81.5 million deal signed last summer with a partial guarantee worth $13.3 million for the 2026-27 season.

The Clippers have long been prioritizing their cap space heading into the summer of 2027, and were not willing to give players deals beyond the 2026-27 season. Harden, who turns 37 in August, had been hoping to secure a two-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $80 million after this season, sources said, but the Clippers have remained steadfast in their unwillingness to go beyond 2027.

James Harden has veto power on any trade because his deal is currently for one season, and he also has a 15 percent trade kicker.

In addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell ClutchPoints that the Minnesota Timberwolves have also had trade discussions with the Clippers around James Harden. The Wolves have been in the market for a veteran guard to play alongside Anthony Edwards, but haven’t been able to gain traction on a deal as of Monday night.

The Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans have also inquired about potentially trading for James Harden, but sources say Harden has no interest in joining either franchise via trade.

The Clippers are now 23-25 on the season after Monday night, winning 17 of their last 21 games since starting the season with a 6-21 record.

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