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The Cavaliers could be close to breaking up the core four, and it’s possible a future Hall of Famer could be coming to Cleveland as rumors swirl ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
The Cavs and Los Angeles Clippers have had extensive conversations about a blockbuster trade that would flip All-Darius Garland to L.A. and James Harden to Cleveland, according to multiple reports. Those talks are reportedly “ramping up.” The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
Harden, 36, is a former MVP who has been named to eight All-NBA teams and won three scoring titles. He was an All-Star with the Clippers last season and finished 10th in MVP voting, enough to earn an All-NBA Third Team nod. He averaged 22.8 points and 8.7 assists and has increased his scoring output this season, averaging 25.4 points in 44 games.
A Garland-Harden swap would represent a more urgent, aggressive direction for the Cavaliers, who have been resistant to breaking up the core four of Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
James Harden contract
The Cavs are in the NBA’s second apron, which drastically reduces the types of moves a team can make. Still, they’d be able to deal Garland for Harden, as Garland’s apron salary of $39.5 million is just north of Harden’s apron salary of $39.2 million. Even without getting under the second apron, the Cavaliers can still complete 1-1 trades in which they send out more salary than they receive.
The main difference is in how it would impact Cleveland’s potential timeline. Garland is under contract for three seasons, while Harden is only under contract through next season, and that’s via a player option valued at $42.3 million, which would give him all of the leverage. If the Cavaliers actually went ahead with a trade like this, it would likely mean they have full confidence that Harden would accept his player option for 2026-27 with Mitchell on the roster.
Garland has battled a toe injury dating back to last year’s playoffs. It cost him the first seven games of this season and has been a recurring issue, potentially alarming the Cavs, who know this is a prime opportunity with the Eastern Conference decimated by injuries.