The Los Angeles Clippers and veteran guard James Harden are actively working together to find a trade before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Both sides are engaging in discussions with interested teams as they explore whether a deal can be finalized in the coming days. 

Harden – an 11-time All-Star and former MVP – remains under contract with the Clippers this season on a deal worth $39.2 million, and because the agreement is only for this year with a player option next season, he has veto power on any potential trade. The 36-year-old has been a major offensive catalyst in Los Angeles, helping the Clippers climb into play-in contention after a rough start. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as one of the most serious suitors in preliminary discussions, with conversations reportedly including Harden as part of a potential package and Cleveland’s Darius Garland linked in trade talks. Multiple outlets also note that both sides are aligned in trying to find a mutually beneficial move, with Harden seeking a chance to compete for a championship and the Clippers considering ways to reshape their roster. 

Harden has been absent for the past two Clippers games due to personal reasons, a development that has coincided with intensified trade chatter as the deadline approaches. 

With the NBA trade deadline just days away, the Clippers and James Harden are in real time conversations about a potential move – a storyline that could reshape Los Angeles’ roster and impact the playoff landscape if a deal materializes.