Darius Garland to Clippers as Harden Heads to Cavaliers

Merlin sees a big backcourt shuffle: Darius Garland was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden, with Cleveland also sending a second-round pick. Garland thanked the Cavs, saying "I'll never forget the night I was drafted," and Clippers president Lawrence Frank said, "We are trying to get younger while continuing to win." The move remakes both teams' guard rooms and shifts short-term playoff math in two conferences. Merlin notes Garland is a two-time All-Star who averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 assists with efficient shooting and sits No. 3 on Cleveland’s all-time assist list, yet he battled injuries and had inconsistent on-court impact this season. If healthy, he could boost the Clippers’ hot stretch; Cleveland gains Harden’s scoring next to Donovan Mitchell and must hope chemistry forms fast.