More insider details on the Harden trade talks: Cavaliers' request for a first-round pick rejected; Timberwolves and two other teams also interested in him

On February 3rd Beijing time, American media ClutchPoints reported additional details about the trade discussions between the Cavaliers and Clippers concerning Harden, specifically as follows —

During the continued negotiations, the Cavaliers explicitly stated that to part with Garland, they would need the Clippers to add draft picks as compensation.League insiders revealed that the Cavaliers requested a future draft pick from the Clippers, but this request was declined. It is reported that the Cavaliers inquired about the Clippers’ 2030 first-round pick.

Sources disclosed that the Clippers and Harden have been negotiating a trade for several weeks, with the team cooperating with the 36-year-old guard to find potential new teams. The Clippers were initially reluctant to trade Harden, especially given the team’s recent improvement in performance. Considering the team’s significant turnaround this season, Harden’s sudden request to leave caught the Clippers’ management by surprise.

The Clippers have posted an impressive 17-4 record over their last 21 games, but they lost 113-128 at home to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Harden missed that game due to “personal reasons” stated by the team and also sat out Monday’s away game against the Phoenix Suns.

Although trade talks have been ongoing, Harden has remained on the team roster during this period, appearing in nearly all Clippers games. However, both sides have agreed to try to finalize a trade before the NBA trade deadline on February 6th.

According to sources, although negotiations between the Clippers and Cavaliers have entered a new, deeper phase,the trade has not been finalized yet, and Harden might still stay with the team after the deadline. If the trade does not go through, there is a possibility talks will resume again this summer.

Harden’s current contract is a two-year, $81.5 million deal signed last summer, with the 2026-27 season including a partially guaranteed amount of $13.3 million.

The Clippers have long focused on salary cap space for the 2027 offseason and have been unwilling to offer contracts extending beyond the 2026-27 season. Sources say Harden, who will turn 37 this August, originally hoped to sign a two-year fully guaranteed $80 million contract extension after this season, but the Clippers have remained firm in not extending the contract past 2027.

Because Harden’s contract is considered a one-year deal under league rules, he holds a no-trade clause and also has a 15% trade bonus clause included in his contract.

Besides the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources revealed that the Minnesota Timberwolves have also engaged in talks with the Clippers regarding a potential Harden trade. The Timberwolves have been eager to acquire a veteran guard to team up with Anthony Edwards, but those negotiations have yet to make substantial progress.

The Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans have also inquired about the possibility of trading for Harden, but sources say Harden himself is not interested in joining either of these two teams.

Following Tuesday’s loss, the Clippers’ record this season stands at 23 wins and 25 losses. After a poor start of 6-21, the team has surged with 17 wins in their last 21 games, marking a significant turnaround.