At last! The LA Clippers have made their way into the trade deadline buzz, and talks have reportedly already advanced. As first reported by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the idea of James Harden being sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers has gained traction. In return, the former MVP will be replaced by Darius Garland.
Furthermore, the Clippers should proceed with the deal immediately. Harden may be having a great season, averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists, yet LA’s backcourt would get ten years younger with the former lottery pick.
Additionally, Garland is not just a star; he is an All-Star, not once, but twice. The credibility is there, the age gap benefits the Clippers’ future, and his playstyle has the gravity to help Tyronn Lue in the postseason.
Thus, this would be the trade that rejuvenates the Clippers' future, which disappeared when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander departed in 2019.
Darius Garland would be a dream come true for a team lacking a true rising star
Jordan Miller is present, as is Kobe Sanders, yet a credible, rising superstar has been missing since 2019. Referring to Darius Garland as someone with All-NBA potential in the future may be a stretch right now, but with the team in his hands and the ultimate green light, he could easily become one of the best point guards in the league.
This season, Garland’s averages are at 18.0 points and 6.9 assists, shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.0% from a distance.
Though he is averaging fewer points and assists than James Harden, the efficiency gap is evident, and it favors the LA Clippers.
Moreover, these talks should not be a surprise. James Harden missed an entire back-to-back stretch, in which the designation was “personal reasons.”
However, Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated reported tonight that head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned the 11-time All-Star is at his residence in Phoenix, and that is all he knows. No other insight was provided on why someone who is known for being available is suddenly out for consecutive contests.
That said, no rationale is needed to justify why the Clippers are after Garland. They see a land of opportunity in trading a 36-year-old for a 26-year-old, and given the prosperous, flashy years the Vanderbilt product has had in Cleveland, LA should be persistent in making the deal happen before Thursday.