On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that James Harden would be heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. While the LA Clippers (who have one of the oldest rosters in the league) got a much-needed dose of younger talent, the Cavaliers have significantly upgraded the firepower in their backcourt.
Thanks to this high-profile trade, the Cavs can now field a starting backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, the team’s main man since the 2022-23 season. Joining them in the frontcourt is the All-Star duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, along with emerging young wing Jaylon Tyson.
This past weekend, the Cavaliers had picked up Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team trade that also involved the Chicago Bulls. De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs’ longtime 3-and-D specialist, was moved to Sacramento in this deal.
The Cavs’ backcourt now boasts a former MVP in Harden; rising young stars in Ellis, Craig Porter Jr., and Tyrese Proctor; seasoned court generals in Schroder and Lonzo Ball; and a cornerstone in Mitchell.
In the wings, Tyson and the sharpshooting Sam Merill provide steady production; while the frontcourt is held down by Mobley, Allen, Dean Wade, Thomas Bryant, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
The arrival of James Harden provides an immense boost to the Cavs’ firepower, though it’s worth noting that he has struggled to close out playoff series in the past. It’s possible that the clutch gene of Mitchell will be able to offset that flaw of the Cavaliers’ latest acquisition.
“What He Did Should Not Be Understated”: Clippers Beat Writer Looks Back at Harden’s Stint With Former Team
In the aftermath of the James Harden news, a Clippers beat writer paid tribute to the work that the 11-time All-Star put in since 2023.
“Say what you want about James Harden’s playoff shortcomings. What he did for this Clipper team in the regular season should not be understated,” Grant Mona tweeted on Tuesday. “Huge reason why the Clippers won 50 games in back-to-back seasons. Was an All-Star last year. Always durable.”
In each of the two full seasons that James Harden spent with the Clippers, the team made it to the playoffs and was eliminated in the first round. With the Cavaliers, Harden is hoping to go even further in the postseason.
