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The NBA trade deadline has put Cavaliers fans on alert, and all eyes have shifted to Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden.
Late on the night of Feb. 2, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Clippers and 11-time NBA All-Star Harden are working together and with interested teams on finding a deal by the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The Cavs “are one of the teams expressing serious interest in Harden,” Charania reported. The Cavs were the only suitor named in Charania’s report.
Another report by Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix states the Cavs and Clippers have engaged in advanced discussions about Cleveland trading two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland for Harden.
Garland turned 26 on Jan. 26, and Harden will turn 37 on Aug. 26. In other words, if the Cavs were to trade Garland for Harden, Cleveland would be betting on instantly increasing its title chances and surrendering greater long-term production.
Harden’s contract gives him the power to veto any trade. He is making $39.2 million this season and has a player option next season for $42.3 million (with only $13.3 million guaranteed), according to spotrac.com. Garland is making $39.4 million this season, and he’s under contract through 2027-28.
The Cavs (30-21) are scheduled to visit Clippers (23-26) at 10:30 p.m. Feb. 4.
Harden has played in 44 games (all starts) this season. He sat out the past two games because of what the Clippers have listed as a personal reason. He is averaging 25.4 points on 41.9% shooting from the field (34.7% on 3-pointers), 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 35.4 minutes
The Clippers list Harden as 6 feet, 5 inches and 220 pounds.
Garland has played in 26 games (all starts) this season, missing time due to offseason surgery on his left big toe and the past nine games because of a sprained right big toe. He is averaging 18 points on 45.1% shooting from the field (36% on 3-pointers), 2.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 30.5 minutes.
Darius Garland height, weight
The Cavs list Garland as 6 feet, 1 inch and 195 pounds.
The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Feb. 5.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.