James Harden was one of the defining players of the 2010s NBA, emerging as a prolific offensive force with the Houston Rockets and even winning an MVP award.
In the 2020s, Harden's career has been defined more by team-to-team movement than it has by his play.
Harden is on the move once again, as the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a pre-deadline deal that came at least partly as his request, according to reports.
Here's a complete look at Harden's trade history in the NBA and how many teams he's played for.
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How many teams has James Harden played for?
The Cavaliers will be Harden's sixth team in his 17-year NBA career.
The bulk of Harden's movement has come since the start of the 2020s. The Cavaliers are his fifth team in the last six seasons alone, as he spent time with the Rockets, Nets and 76ers before joining the Clippers and now the Cavaliers.
Harden spent his first 11 seasons with just two teams: the Thunder and Rockets. After starting his career with three seasons in Oklahoma City, Harden was traded by the Thunder in a surprise deal two days before the start of the 2012-13 season. In recent years, however, it's Harden who has spurred trades to new destinations as he's settled into the latter stages of his career.
Here's what you need to know about Harden's trade history.
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How many times has James Harden been traded?
Harden has now been traded five times, including four times since the start of 2021.
The Thunder traded Harden to the Rockets in 2012, and he stayed put until requesting a trade in 2020, which resulted in a deal that sent him to the Nets in January of 2021.
Just a year later, Harden was dealt to the 76ers, and he was sent across the country to Los Angeles upon his request less than two years after arriving in Philadelphia.
While Harden initially indicated he planned to stay with the Clippers long-term, potentially finishing out his career with the organization, he is now headed back to the Eastern Conference to join a contending Cavaliers squad.
MORE: Why Clippers traded James Harden
James Harden trade history
Harden has only changed teams via trade in his career, never joining a team through free agency. Here's a look at every deal.
Thunder to Rockets, 2012
Rockets get: James Harden
Thunder get: Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks, second-round pick
In a surprising move, the Thunder broke up a young core that had just reached the NBA Finals and traded Harden to the Rockets two days before the start of the 2012-13 NBA season.
While Harden hadn't yet become the star he was in Houston, he was on the rise as the reigning Sixth Man of the Year next to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Thunder were coming off a Finals appearance, but they felt they had to start thinking ahead about salary cap constraints with Durant and Westbrook commanding sizable deals that would prevent them from paying Harden what he wanted.
The Thunder never returned to the Finals with Durant and Westbrook, as both the veteran Martin and the young Lamb struggled to pan out in Oklahoma City. The picks acquired for Harden were shuffled around some more, but one became a core piece for the Thunder: center Steven Adams, who was selected No. 12 overall in 2013.
Rockets to Nets, 2021
Nets get: James Harden, second-round pick
Rockets get: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four first-round picks, four first-round pick swaps
Pacers get: Caris LeVert, second-round pick
Cavaliers get: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
After Harden requested a trade out of Houston in late 2021, his time with the Rockets ended with a massive four-team deal that sent him to Brooklyn.
The Nets sent Caris LeVert to the Pacers and Jarrett Allen to the Cavaliers as part of the deal, while Victor Oladipo made his way to Houston but the Rockets otherwise emphasized draft picks. Houston received four first-round picks as part of the trade, also landing four first-round pick swaps as it started the post-Harden era.
Harden and the Nets were at one point NBA championship favorites in 2021, but injuries suffered by him and Kyrie Irving played a role in a blown series lead and second-round loss to the eventual champion Bucks. Less than a year later, Harden would be on the move again.
James Harden
(Getty Images)
Nets to 76ers, 2022
76ers get: James Harden, Paul Millsap
Nets get: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, two first-round picks
Harden didn't explicitly request a trade out of Brooklyn ahead of the 2022 deadline, but ESPN reported that decision was only "out of fear of public backlash for asking out once again," explaining that Harden made it clear he preferred a trade that would reunite him with former Rockets GM Daryl Morey in Philadelphia.
The 76ers executed a deal before the deadline to land Harden, sending former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons and two more players to the Nets along with a pair of first-round picks.
Harden and the 76ers fell in the second round in each of their two trips to the playoffs, and more discontent followed after the 2022-23 season.
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76ers to Clippers, 2023
Clippers get: James Harden, P.J. Tucker, Filip Petrusev
76ers get: Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, one pick swap
Harden became frustrated with the 76ers during the 2023 offseason, and tensions boiled over when he told a group of young fans, "Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of," during a trip to China.
The 76ers resisted trading Harden after struggling to find common ground on a deal with the Clippers, but the former MVP missed practice time leading up to the season and was finally traded to L.A. in October of 2023.
Clippers to Cavaliers, 2026
Cavaliers get: James Harden
Clippers get: Darius Garland, second-round pick
Despite expectations Harden could finish his career in Los Angeles, it was reportedly shortly before the 2026 deadline that the Clippers and the 11-time All-Star were working to find a trade at Harden's request.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
The Clippers dealt Harden to the Cavaliers, sending him back to the Eastern Conference to star alongside Donovan Mitchell in a deal that netted L.A. a new point guard in Darius Garland, with a draft pick.
The Cavaliers are Harden's fifth team in a span of six seasons, and the deal marked the fifth trade involving Harden in his NBA career.
James Harden career earnings
Harden has made $411.4 million in career earnings through the 2025-26 season, ranking fourth in NBA history behind only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
The 36-year-old has a $42 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which would bump him past $450 million in career earnings if he accepted.