The Miami Heat are in dangerous territory with an all-in approach to acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar is an almost unrivaled talent, but the Heat's determined approach has inevitably created the possibility that they could miss out on him and thus have a quiet deadline.
Thankfully, the Cleveland Cavaliers have spared the Heat from making a desperate trade for perhaps the second-biggest name on the open market: James Harden.
Harden, 36, shocked the masses when it was revealed that he'd requested a trade in the midst of the LA Clippers winning 17 of their past 22 games. Before multiple teams could be named as interested in his services, however, the Cavaliers emerged as clear frontrunners.
The deal went over the finish line on Tuesday, Feb. 3 when the Cavaliers sent Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Clippers for Harden and a second-rounder.
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. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
In the process, the Cavaliers spared the Heat from pursuing a trade that wouldn't have been enough to make a sufficient step toward contending. Perhaps even more importantly, it prevented Miami from committing to a trade that would've directly influenced its pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
With their priorities still in order, the Heat can continue their pursuit of Antetokounmpo and avoid the desperation gamble that would've put their progress at risk.
James Harden would've been a lackluster consolation prize for Giannis
Harden is an undoubtedly talented player, but the Heat can't settle for any star they encounter. Perhaps he could've helped elevate Miami to a higher tier, but he'd recreate the very issue that began to haunt the team with Jimmy Butler before ideological clashes even took hold.
Much as Butler was extending his prime and hoping to sustain a star level of play beyond the age most players are able to, Harden is 36 and doing the same.
Harden has already struggled to play with the efficiency that he was once capable of. He's on pace to shoot below 43.0 percent from the field for the fourth time in five seasons, averaging 25.4 points per game but at a clip of .419/.347/.901.
Players typically don't become more efficient without sacrificing volume late in their 30s, which is the trend Miami would be banking on Harden to break.
Furthermore, Harden is the only player in the NBA averaging more than 5.66 seconds per touch at a distant 6.00. The Heat, meanwhile, rank No. 1 in pace and average just 2.62 seconds per touch—tied for the fewest in the Association.
Thankfully, the Heat held on to hope that Antetokounmpo is still in the cards for them and opted against overhauling their system for Harden.