James Harden joins the Cleveland Cavaliers, aiming for his first NBA championship ring in his career.

Though he has won many valuable titles throughout his career, Harden, at age 36, still does not have an NBA championship ring.

According to journalist Shams Charania (ESPN), the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a notable trade: the Clippers sent James Harden to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick.

This deal is said to have been discussed and arranged over the past few days, aiming to benefit both teams. For Harden, it’s a great opportunity to pursue his first NBA championship, while the Clippers can refresh their roster with a younger star, Garland, who fits both their present and future needs — a two-time All-Star selection. All-Star team and only 26 years old.

The Cavaliers hope Harden will elevate the team in the Eastern Conference title race. The pairing of Harden and Donovan Mitchell promises to give Cleveland one of the best scoring and playmaking backcourts in the NBA today.

According to the Clippers’ announcement, Harden missed the last two games against the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers due to personal reasons. Coach Tyronn Lue stated that Harden is currently at his home in Phoenix during this period.

In his 17th season, Harden remains one of the NBA’s top offensive players averaging 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game. This is his highest scoring average since his last full season with Houston. The "Beard" has also played a key role in the Clippers’ resurgence, as the team improved after a disastrous 6-21 start.

The Clippers acquired Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023. Although he helped the team reach the playoffs twice, the Clippers were eliminated in the first round both times. Last summer, Harden signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract with a player option worth $42 million for the next season. Despite an illustrious career with 11 All-Star appearances and an MVP award, Harden still lacks an NBA championship ring.

As for Garland, he is currently sidelined with a right big toe injury and has not played since January 14. This season, Garland has appeared in only 26 games, averaging 18 points and 6.9 assists. Injury issues and playoff failures have led the Cavaliers to consider a new direction.

Garland was drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2019 NBA Draft, marking the beginning of the team’s rebuild after LeBron James. He had his best season last year, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists per game, and shooting 40% from three-point range, significantly contributing to Cleveland’s 64-win season. The ball-handling guard currently has two years left on a contract extension signed in 2022, worth nearly $90 million over five years.