When the Los Angeles Clippers finalized the trade sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second‑round pick, Tyronn Lue greeted Harden with a smile. Even as the deal neared completion, Harden — wearing Clippers gear — continued treatment, joined a workout and spent time saying goodbye to staff and teammates. The exit was notably cordial, a stark contrast to the strained departures that marked his stops in Houston, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
Lue recalled walking over to the training table to rib Harden with the guard’s favorite line, "you weird," and joked about how much the team will miss him. "We're all going to miss him. Of course, his play. But just his personality," Lue said.
More than a single roster move, Harden’s departure signals the end of an era that began in 2019 when Kawhi Leonard's signing and the Paul George trade established a title‑contending identity for the franchise. The Clippers, who have been the league’s hottest team since Christmas, are now moving on from the big, veteran gambles that tried to offset Leonard and George’s injury issues. Availability problems and injuries prevented the star trio from consistently delivering, a
