It's official. James Harden was traded to the Cavs on Tuesday night, in a trade that sent Darius Garland to the Clippers.
The trade got mixed reactions, as it happened at an interesting time for both teams.
After Harden decided his time with the Clippers was up, he decided that Cleveland was the team he wanted to play for next.
Even with Harden being sent to a preferred destination, he could leave the team this summer if things go wrong.
Did the Cavs make a risky move by acquiring James Harden's contract?
Harden is set to have a player option on the last year of his contract, in the 2026-27 NBA season (next season), worth ~$42.3 million.
If he chooses to, he could become a free agent, which could be disastrous for the Cavs.
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Now, things could go great, and he can either opt in to his final year or become a free agent, potentially signing a new deal with the Cavs, but the thought of Harden having the freedom to leave is a little scary for the Cavs.
If that does happen, they'll have traded Garland for virtually nothing.
Harden is also approaching his late-30s, so winning a championship appears to be at the top of his list of goals.
If the Cavs aren't in a contending position heading into next season, it wouldn't be surprising to see Harden walk in free agency, as he's already asked out from several teams in just the last few years.
Acquiring Harden also indicates the Cavs are making a push to create a win-now window, as Harden is set to be near retirement age in a few years, compared to Garland, who is 26 years old.
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