Harden 1-for-2 trade rating: Cavaliers gain strong reinforcement for title push rated A, Clippers downgraded with only a C rating

On February 4th Beijing time, according to insider Shams, the Los Angeles Clippers traded Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Garland and a 2026 second-round pick from the Cavaliers. Subsequently, USA Today rated this trade, giving the Cavaliers an A grade, while the Clippers received only a C. Details are as follows—

Cavaliers trade rating: A

Undeniably, Garland truly has notable talent. Without skill, he wouldn’t be one of the primary offensive initiators on a top NBA offensive team, nor would he average around 20 points and 7 assists per game. However, the core issue between Garland and the Cavaliers is obvious—he rarely maintains that level of performance consistently. Over his seven-year career, he has only played 70 or more games in a single season once. His recent severe toe injury makes his absences even more glaring. This is precisely why the Cavaliers are eager to part ways with this 26-year-old two-time All-Star, which speaks volumes about the situation.

Exchanging a player like Garland, whose availability is uncertain, for Harden, who is likely to provide only short-term service, is undoubtedly a big win for the Cavaliers. Harden’s on-court experience and reliability (which is the key) should help the Cavaliers establish themselves firmly in the Eastern Conference and compete with other strong teams. Even if Harden’s arrival doesn’t deliver a championship, having him on the roster will make it harder for opponents to contain Mitchell. And if the trade doesn’t meet expectations, the Cavaliers can let Harden go after the season and then pursue more long-term valuable players during the offseason.

It’s no exaggeration to say that this trade by the Cavaliers looks very promising.

Clippers trade rating: C

On the positive side, the Clippers exchanged Harden, whose contract is about to expire, for an All-Star point guard nearly 10 years younger. On the surface, this is definitely a big win for a Clippers team focusing on the future. Turning an expiring asset into a long-term piece is commendable.

However, from another perspective, the Clippers are the oldest team on average in the league. Just before making this trade, they had an impressive 16-4 run, reversing their season’s downward trend. As long as they secure a playoff spot, the team seems poised to chase any goal. Leonard’s age is a factor, but what about Garland? Setting age aside, his ability compared to Harden’s is clearly a downgrade. Can such a player really help the Clippers achieve their “contend now” goal? I have serious doubts. Moreover, Garland’s health concerns appear more severe than the Cavaliers have disclosed—his availability is far too low for someone expected to be the team’s offensive core.

It’s commendable that the Clippers managed to get some assets back by trading Harden instead of just waiting for his contract to expire. But that’s about all there is to it.