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Chris Renkel: Cleveland Cavaliers Betting that James Harden Will Show up 'when Things Matter Most' After Shipping Darius Garland to LA
Harden rejected trade rumors and joined Cleveland to pursue his first NBA title, with the Cavaliers trading Darius Garland and a future pick to build a stronger Eastern Conference contender.
- On Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers for Darius Garland and a future second-round pick, while Harden denied requesting the trade.
- The Clippers' refusal to sign Harden long-term forced negotiations as he held a $42.3 million player option and they prioritized salary-cap flexibility over a multi-year extension.
- Harden is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds this year, and said, `In Cleveland I see an opportunity to win in the East-- they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above` .
- With the Cavaliers sitting as the No. 5 seed, Harden's arrival signals urgency as Cleveland pairs him with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen to raise its Eastern Conference title hopes.
- Harden's history of engineered exits raises questions about timing and motive, especially during the Clippers' recent 17-5 stretch and a rare star-for-star swap.
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Chris Renkel: Cleveland Cavaliers betting that James Harden will show up 'when things matter most' after shipping Darius Garland to LA
After years of growth coupled with injuries and playoff struggles, the Cavaliers have traded Darius Garland. They now hope James Harden will deliver when needed.
·Cleveland, United States
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James Harden & The Art Of The Exit: A Look At His Trade History
Source: Alex Goodlett / Getty It seems like we’ve been here before. That’s because we have. That’s the feeling that washed over the basketball world last night, when the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off one of the wildest moves of the 2025-26 season: trading for James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for fellow guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick. Harden, the 11-time All-Star and former MVP, is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 a…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
71% Center
L 29%
C 71%
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