Rumors

Jake Fischer: The Cavaliers aren't done, either. Cleveland is very much still working towards finding a trade partner to assume Lonzo Ball's $10 million salary, per sources.

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Chris Mannix: Clippers and Cavs have been in advanced negotiations since last night, when @SInow reported the talks. Cleveland wanted a first rounder but that was never seen as a deal breaker. Cavs wanted to take a big swing. LA wanted a younger All-Star. Both sides get what they were after.

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Ramona Shelburne: A few weeks ago James Harden was waxing poetic about his time in LA, telling ESPN how “blessed” he’d felt to play in his hometown. I believe he was genuine in those sentiments. But this is a business decision for all involved. Garland is 10 years younger and gives the Clippers more of a future. Harden gets a chance to play for a contender and a better chance to earn some long term security. Everyone involved knew this summer how tradable that partial guarantee on the second year of Harden’s contract made him. All in all, a very different kind of exit than his last few exits.

Twitter

Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.

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Oh No He Didn't: Windy: "People I'm talking to there is real momentum for this. Darius Garland is getting in his head that he's gonna be a Clipper. James Harden is getting in his head that he's gonna be a Cav"

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Harrison Faigen: James Harden dropping a video where he says "scared money don't make money, let's get it on" the day his trade request leaks is why he's the goat

Twitter

The idea of this deal struck league executives as potentially awkward for both teams. While James Harden is having a strong season, his timeline does not match the rest of the Cavs' roster. Darius Garland is dealing with issues to both big toes and, while sources said he is making progress after missing the past two weeks with a right toe sprain and could return soon, there is some concern about whether the injuries could be a longer-term issue. The Clippers had won 17 of 21 games before Monday night, completely turning around their season. Harden potentially jumping ship now, and its potential effect on the Clippers' trajectory, certainly won't be burnishing his résumé.

ESPN

The Cleveland Browns introduced a new head coach, Todd Monken, earlier today. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who is also a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, spoke with media members following today's introductory press conference and briefly addressed the prospect of the Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. "Giannis is a top three, top four player in the world," Haslam said. "He brought Milwaukee its first championship in 50 years several years ago, and he's a really good person too. He's no problem. He's a great leader, tries hard. "And I think Giannis and the Bucks — and I think this goes back before we were involved — have always worked closely to see what's best for Giannis and what's best for the Bucks, and we'll continue to do so. "

New York Times

Sam Amick on Cavaliers: They're the only second apron team in the league. My understanding is that the De’Andre Hunter deal, the three-team trade with the Kings and the Bulls, essentially the amount that they need to get out of the apron and to be able to do some of this stuff, that cut off about a third of it and they still have a ways to go and I don't I've not crunched all the numbers but if you find a new home for Jarrett Allen and get that salary off your books which that is something that would be appealing to a lot of teams out there, then it opens up these possibilities. Yes. you know, first and foremost, the the idea of them jumping into the Giannis sweep stakes, which is very unlikely given everything we're kind of laying out, but Giannis is one of those players that if you have any chance to go after him, you do. If it's not Giannis, I didn't write this part last night, but like they've shown interest in Domantas Sabonis in the past. I think doing something like that, is on their board, but it's just really tough to get there.

YouTube

ESPN Cleveland: "The Cavs have talked to the Bucks about Giannis. The Cavs have talked to the Mavs about Anthony Davis," - @WindhorstESPN on Cavs trade talks.

Twitter

ESPN Cleveland: "The key here is that the Cavs are moving away from believing in the Core 4 and I think the genesis of this is because they're worried that Donovan is not going to re-sign this summer," - @WindhorstESPN on the Cavs trade talks 😯😯😯

Twitter

ESPN Cleveland: "The reason it got public is because it's close... while I do think there's momentum, I do not think it's absolutely a done deal," - @WindhorstESPN on the status of the Cavs and Clippers Garland/Harden trade talks.

Twitter

ESPN Cleveland: "I suspect that the only way that Harden is going to approve a trade is if he goes to a place where he knows he's going to get paid," - @WindhorstESPN on Harden's motivation to get traded.

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Chris Haynes: Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up conversations on a James Harden, Darius Garland package with both sides motivated to executing a deal relatively soon, league sources tell me.

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