Darius Garland’s seven-year tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the franchise that selected him No. 5 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, came to an end Tuesday after he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for 11-time All-Star James Harden.
The blockbuster transaction also included Cleveland sending out a second-round pick as part of a move aimed at reshaping its backcourt.
Looking at Darius Garland’s Contract
Garland is currently in the third season of the five-year, $197.2 million extension he signed in 2023. This year, the third of that deal, carries a salary of $39.4 million.
He was entitled to a 15% trade bonus, but according to Spotrac, that bonus was waived, because he is above the maximum salary for his years of service. Garland is still guaranteed substantial earnings over the final two seasons of the contract, valued at $42.1 million and $44.8 million, before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2028-29 unless he signs an extension.
Garland has battled injuries that disrupted Cleveland’s playoff push last season, which ended with a second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. Even so, he averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range, earned an All-Star selection, and helped guide the Cavaliers to a 64-win campaign and the league’s top offense.
This season, Garland has been limited to just 26 appearances due to toe injuries, the most recent diagnosed as a Grade 1 sprain of his right big toe. He has not played since Jan. 14.
Garland, who is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists across those 26 games, remains sidelined but would immediately slide into the Clippers’ starting point guard role alongside weapons such as Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and John Collins, barring another roster-shaping trade.
He also brings a much-needed injection of youth to an aging Clippers roster, coming in 10 years younger than Harden.
The Clippers still face several roster decisions even after completing the deal, including determining the futures of Chris Paul and two-way players Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Los Angeles sits roughly $883,000 below the first apron following the trade.
