Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden reportedly could be on the move at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n
Harden has missed the team’s last two games for personal reasons, and ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the two sides are working to see if they can find a deal by Thursday’s deadline. It’s a pretty shocking development for Harden, who has been a key piece of L.A.’s turnaround this season that has helped it get back in the mix for a playoff spot in the West. <\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Clippers and 11-time All-Star James Harden are working through whether the sides can find a deal by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. Both sides are aligned in conversations together and with interested teams. pic.twitter.com\/XzvCz0fc4w<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n One team has emerged<\/a> as potential Harden suitor in the last few hours, according to Sports Illustrated’s NBA insider Chris Mannix. <\/p>\n “The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers have had advanced discussions on a deal that would send James Harden to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland, sources tellSports Illustrated,” Mannix reported<\/a> on Monday night.<\/p>\n Cleveland has already made a move ahead of the deadline, trading away forward De’Andre Hunter in a three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls, and it could further shake up its roster with a Harden-Garland swap. Any deal with the Cavs will be complicated, as the team is still in the second apron as of Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n Harden’s involvement in trade rumors has caused a shift in the Clippers’ odds to win the NBA Finals at DraftKings Sportsbook<\/a>. L.A. was +7000 to win the title on Monday morning, but the team has fallen back to +8000 with some uncertainty around the former league MVP’s future.<\/p>\n If the Clippers can’t find a deal for Harden, it could lead to a rocky situation down the stretch of the 2025-26 season. Plus, there is no guarantee that a Harden deal improves the Clippers’ chances of winning the Finals this season.<\/p>\n Los Angeles is currently 23-26 and holds a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference. After a slow start to the season, Los Angeles has been one of the better teams in the NBA over the last month-plus, with Harden and Kawhi Leonard leading the way. <\/p>\n Harden is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from 3 this season, appearing in 44 games for the Clippers. <\/p>\n Cleveland makes sense as a potential suitor since it has NBA Finals expectations and Garland has struggled to stay on the floor in the 2025-26 campaign. The former first-round pick has appeared in just 26 games for the Cavs, and a toe injury limited his availability in the playoffs last season as well. <\/p>\n The Clippers are 11th in the odds to win the NBA Finals as of Tuesday morning, but there is a steep drop off between them and the true contenders. The No. 9 team in the odds is the Philadelphia 76ers, and they sit at +3500 to win the title, significantly ahead of the Clippers in this market. <\/p>\n Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.<\/p>\n If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n Claim the latest\u00a0DraftKings promo code<\/a>\u00a0offer today. Sign up and win your first $5 bet to get\u00a0$300 in bonus bets instantly.<\/a><\/p>\n