Cavaliers Acquire James Harden, Aiming for Deep Playoff Run

Cleveland trades Darius Garland to Clippers in blockbuster deal for 11-time All-Star

Feb. 6, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired 11-time NBA All-Star James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland. The Cavaliers are hoping Harden's addition, along with the acquisitions of Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder, will propel them to a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, sitting fourth in the East. The addition of Harden, a future Hall of Famer, is a bold move by the front office to capitalize on the team's strong start and make a serious push for an NBA championship.

The details

In the trade, the Cavaliers sent Darius Garland, a two-time All-Star, to the Clippers. Garland has been dealing with foot injuries this season, missing 27 games. The Cavaliers also acquired Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder in separate deals. Despite taking on Harden's large contract, the Cavaliers were able to lower their overall luxury tax bill through the various transactions.

  • The Cavaliers were 19-15 at one point this season, but have gone 12-5 since January 1.
  • The Cavaliers are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, just 2.5 games out of second place.
  • Harden's Cavaliers debut could come on Saturday, February 11 against the Sacramento Kings.

The players

James Harden

An 11-time NBA All-Star who has been traded to the Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Darius Garland

A two-time NBA All-Star who was traded by the Cavaliers to the Clippers as part of the deal for Harden.

Koby Altman

The President of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who orchestrated the trade to acquire Harden.

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What they’re saying

“We really felt like we got a lot better in this deadline. I'll say this, it's very rare to improve your team and save $100 million at the same time.”

— Koby Altman, President of Basketball Operations, Cleveland Cavaliers

“This was not someone that was available somewhere we were trying to move. This became an opportunity that we exercised. He was getting back to a high level of play.”

— Koby Altman, President of Basketball Operations, Cleveland Cavaliers

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' blockbuster trade for James Harden signals their intent to compete for an NBA championship this season. By pairing the 11-time All-Star with their young core, Cleveland has positioned itself as a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.