James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers
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James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers
When he was traded in a surprise move last week, going from the Clippers to the Cavaliers in a deal for Darius Garland, star guard James Harden joined the sixth team of his NBA career, and the fifth team in the last six years. But the trade away from the Clippers was especially surprising. Harden is an L.A. native and was finally back home, with the Clippers climbing the standings–they won 17 of 21 games on February 1. The conditions seemed just right for him to stick around.
But Harden told the team he wanted out. Not because he was not happy with his working conditions, but because he wants an extension–he is on a two-year, $81.5 million contract with a player option for next season. The Clippers are weighing their future and were not ready to make a commitment to Harden, who is still effective but also 36 years old.
And so Harden, who had agitated for trades away from Houston in 2021, away from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 and away from the Sixers the following year, asked to be dealt from the Clippers here in 2026.
James Harden: ‘It’s Overrated’
If it appears to you that Harden has become nothing more than a talented basketball mercenary here in the last stage of his career then, well, you’re right. That’s exactly what he is, as he admitted on Wednesday when the Cavaliers won their third straight game, a drubbing of the Wizards.
Give Harden some credit, though. He was very blunt about the situation.
“It’s basketball, the whole quote on quote loyalty thing is, I think it’s overrated,” Harden said, via Fear the Sword. “I think this is a business at the end of the day, and it’s a lot of money involved and a lot of decisions that have to be made. If a player isn’t producing, or if you don’t see him in your future, you know, if the front office, some of them have to do a job and want to keep their job.So they feel like they got to do what’s best keep their job, and they trade players.
“Or if a guy isn’t happy and he wants to be traded to somewhere else, then it’s a problem. It’s just so many different dynamics that go into it. It’s just a business at the end of the day. Not even just the NBA, but people that have normal jobs, have those same problems. It’s just not magnified.”
Cavaliers Traded for Donovan Mitchell, Too
It’s hard to argue with Harden’s point of view. Even among the league’s elite, players are often traded–12 out of the 27 All-Stars on this weekend’s rosters have been dealt, including Harden’s Cavaliers teammate Donovan Mitchell. Many (Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant for example) were traded against their will.
If there’s one thing to be said to Harden’s credit, he has always sought trades to teams he felt were contenders–he’s not just chasing a big payday. He does want to win.
Said Harden: “For me, it’s always about, like, I don’t lose focus on trying to compete for a championship. And then financially, making sure that my family is taken care of, you know what I mean? Because I’m very smart, and I’ve sacrificed a lot financially, which I don’t get credit for that, that don’t get talked about, but I’m fulfilled, and I’m happy with it.
“But like, winning a championship, or at least having a chance to. And then financially getting paid, me being available and playing at the highest level for so long.”