New team for James Harden as superstar leaves Clippers

James Harden is set to leave the Los Angeles Clippers, moving to a join a win-now team with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now 36, Harden’s opportunity to win a first NBA championship are running out and the 23-26 Clippers have no real chance to win a title this year. The Cavaliers are currently 30-21 and have the ability to contend for a championship out of the comparatively weak Eastern Conference.

ESPN reports that Harden will join the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Darius Garland and a second-round pick are heading to the Clippers.

The Cavs already have Donovan Mitchell in the team and there is hope that he and Harden can power them to a championship. Meanwhile the Clippers are in a regenerative phase and will benefit from the presence of 26-year-old Garland and an additional draft pick.

How much is James Harden’s salary?

The Harden trade will also allow the Clippers to get a big earner off the wage bill, freeing up more cap space for the rebuild. Last summer the Clippers re-signed Harden on a two-year deal worth $81.5 million. He has a $42 million player option for the 2026/27 season.

Although he is now in his 17th season in the NBA, Harden remains an elite point scorer and dominant physical presence on the court. This year he has demonstrated his enduring quality as both a scorer and a creator, putting up 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game. Most impressively, Harden has been remarkably durable for a player of his age. He has played at least 70 games in each of the last two seasons and is on track to hit that figure again this year.

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