With the NBA trade deadline about 48 hours away, trade rumors are as hot as the fiery sun ahead of Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET cutoff.
Clippers G James Harden is the latest notable name to hit the trade market, as Monday night brought news from Shams Charania of ESPN reporting the Los Angeles Clippers are working to find a suitor for the former MVP.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were quickly labeled as a potential landing spot, with Chris Hayes stating on Tuesday afternoon that the two sides are looking to execute a deal. Could another team get in on the James Harden trade rumors?
Find the latest Harden trade rumors and his next team payouts if you think he'll be traded, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
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James Harden Next Team Payouts
Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points reported that Harden was hoping to secure a two-year, fully guaranteed deal in the upcoming offseason, but the Clippers have prioritized cap space.
This has likely sparked trade talks, leading to the 11-time All-Star carrying a 1.16x payout to be traded before the deadline, per PrizePicks Team Picks. In connection with the Harden trade, Darius Garland also has a 1.13x payout to be traded.
Payouts for Harden’s next team are not exclusive to the Cavaliers either. Let’s check out potential suitors for the star guard on PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 1.03x Yes | 2.77x No
- Philadelphia 76ers: 1.47x Yes
- Boston Cetlics: 2.22x Yes
- Chicago Bulls: 2.5x Yes
- Brooklyn Nets: 2.77x Yes
- Los Angeles Lakers: 2.94x Yes
- Utah Jazz: 2.94x Yes
- Indiana Pacers: 2.94x Yes
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
James Harden to Cavaliers Trade Rumors: Mock Trade Proposal
Ultimately, we can’t ignore Tuesday’s long lists of reports linking the Cavs to Harden. Cleveland was quickly highlighted on Monday night, as Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated wrote that the two discussed a Harden for Cavaliers PG Darius Garland swap.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported on Tuesday that doubts surround Cavaliers SG Donovan Mitchell re-signing in the summer. Overhauling this core to pursue an NBA Championship would likely be the answer to Cleveland retaining Mitchell — hence the Harden trade rumors.
Marc Stein suggested Mitchell would give the green light for a Garland-Harden swap, providing more fuel for the fire. According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Garland has a 1.13x payout to be traded before the deadline.
Clippers Receive:
- PG Darius Garland
- 2026 Second-round Pick
Cavaliers Receive:
- G James Harden
This trade could be a true player swap, with Cleveland potentially offering a draft pick. Considering Harden has a player option in the summer, the Cavs could avoid giving up their 2026 first-round pick.
Garland carries a $39.4 million cap hit this season, slightly ahead of Harden’s $39.2 million 2025-26 salary, via Spotrac. This deal shouldn’t involve a team looking to offload a contract to afford the deal.
The Clippers are 17-5 in their previous 22 games and sport a 1.75x payout to make the NBA Playoffs, per PrizePicks Team Picks. Garland’s 18.0 points per game (PPG) and 6.9 assists per game (APG) would be a solid replacement for Harden’s 25.4 PPG and 8.1 APG, keeping Los Angeles’ playoff hopes alive.
Additionally, the 26-year-old guard is on contract through the 2027-28 season. Compared to an aging 36-year-old Harden, Los Angeles could acquire a brighter future with this deal.
Garland’s toe injury is a potential holdup for the trade, though. Harden would add to the Cavaliers’ win-now mode, playing in 44 of 49 games this season.
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Predict NBA Trades on PrizePicks
As of Tuesday afternoon, a Garland-Harden swap looks like it could be the most likely move ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Harden’s next team payouts suggest other franchises could get in on the sweepstakes, though.
Make your predictions for Harden to be traded on PrizePicks Team Picks, and earn money if you're right.
There’s still time to make your NBA trade picks for futures on PrizePicks Team Picks. Just go to the PrizePicks app, open Team Picks, pick the player you think will or won’t be traded, and earn cash if you're right.
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