Clippers trade Harden to Cavaliers for Garland, pick -- report

MANILA, Philippines, February 4 ------ The NBA trade deadline frenzy has begun.

James Harden has been traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second round pick, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Harden will now be teaming up with another explosive scorer in Donovan Mitchell, who is leading the Cavaliers, currently holding a 30-21 win-loss record. Cleveland is fifth in the standings in the East.

Garland, the fifth overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, will now be the lead guard of the Clippers, as he joins forces with Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac and John Collins. The Clippers are trying to climb up the standings, as they are currently holding a 23-26 win-loss record, good for the ninth spot in the Western Conference.  The Cavs, earlier in the week, traded for Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder and Emanuel Miller while sending out De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento as they aim to make a deep push in the playoffs.

Another Eastern Conference team also beefed up its roster, as the Boston Celtics acquired Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic for Anfernee Simons, Charania said. The two teams will also swap second round picks.

The Memphis Grizzlies, likewise, seemingly embraced the tank as they traded away forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks. Veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. and young playmaker Jaden Ivey will also land in Chicago after they were traded from Detroit and Minnesota, respectively.  In the deal, the Pistons will receive Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric, as well as a 2026 first-round protected swap from the Timberwolves.

The NBA trade deadline is on Friday (Manila time).

Source: philstar.com