CLEVELAND, Ohio — I wrote two columns critical of the Cavs trading Darius Garland to the L.A. Clippers for James Harden.
I had no problem with Cleveland parting with Garland. He’s had trouble staying healthy, injuries to both feet. Garland was never a good defender, and now he’s one of the worst in the NBA according to several analytic measurements.
My concern was adding Harden, who has asked to be traded four times in the last six years.
That said, the Cavs are in a very unique spot. The playoffs are coming. They have been in the postseason each of the last four years, never once surviving the second round.
“There is an urgency to take the team to the next level,” said Cavs president Koby Altman in his press conference Thursday. “That entered into the move we made.”
While Altman said Donovan Mitchell wasn’t the driving force behind the trade for Harden, that is a factor.
“(Mitchell) is bought in pre-trade, coming into the season, all of it,” said Altman. “He’s laying down roots here. He loves the city. He loves what we’re doing as an organization. Of course, you want feedback from your best player, but that’s not Donovan’s job. Donovan’s job is not to run into my office and tell me to go get this player or make this move. Do we want his input? Absolutely. Just like I want my head coach’s input, just like I want my staff’s input.”
Mitchell also is “all-in” on the trade for Harden, according to Altman. Mitchell also said as much to cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
The 29-year-old Mitchell has been to the playoffs in all eight of his NBA seasons. He’s averaged 25 points per game in the postseason, but he’s never made it out of the second round.
The lack of playoff success has the Cavs frustrated, and they want to avoid it again.
Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman speaks to the media during his end-of-season availability at the Cleveland Clinic courts.
Koby Altman found a way to upgrade the talent and save $100 million on the luxury tax. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Upgrading the roster
Overall the Altman front office had an excellent week. They subtracted three struggling players – Lonzo Ball, De’Andre Hunter and Garland.
They knocked off more than $100 million in luxury tax and payroll, and they also upgraded the talent level. That’s hard to do.
Picking up Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis gives the Cavs a pair of hustling guards who can defend. Schroder can be instant offense and energy off the bench. Ellis is an elite defender.
Then there’s the 36-year-old Harden, an 11-time All-Star.
I talked to someone close to the Clippers who said Harden is having “a great year.” The source said, “Unlike some of these guys, he actually likes to play basketball. He plays a lot of minutes and a lot of games.”
Harden has missed only 16 games in his last 1 ½ seasons. In 2025-26, he’s playing 35 minutes a game, averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds. He’s shooting 42% (35% on 3-pointers) and 90% at the foul line.
But my source also said Harden is an iffy defender, and sometimes is very slow getting back in defense.
“We think he raises our ceiling and gives us a chance to have real playoff success,” said Altman. “James is a top 75 player of all-time. He’s one of the greatest players in NBA history and still playing at an elite level.”
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Phoenix Suns, December 31, 2025
Cavs Coach Kenny Atkinson feels the pressure to win for the Cavs and star Donovan Mitchell. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
The big swing
Like all the key members of the Cavs organization, coach Kenny Atkinson is feeling the pressure to push the team deeper into the playoffs. He’s excited by the recent trades.
“It’s a statement to the players and all of us by the front office and ownership that they are doing everything in their power to get this team to the mountain top,” said Atkinson at his Wednesday press conference.
The Cavs have a 31-21 record. They have won nine of their last 11 games.
“It takes real strength and gumption to take a swing like this (the trades),” said Atkinson. “Dan (Cavs owner Dan Gilbert) has always been that way. Koby is a risk-taker and will go for it. The players are loving it – taking another swing to make us better.”
My sources told me that Harden wanted the Clippers to fully guarantee his $42 million contract for 2026-27. The guarantee is only $13.3 million.
Altman indicated the contract discussions will happen after the season.
“This opportunity came to us several weeks ago,” said Altman. “It (Cleveland) is a place James identified. He wants to be here to try to win a championship … He sought us out as a basketball destination.”
For now, it’s all about the Cavs preparing for a strong playoff run. Altman has mentioned several times over the years that the Cavs’ playoff problems usually have to do with a lack of scoring.
In the 2023 playoffs, the Cavs averaged 94.2 points, 15th out of 16 teams. In the 2024 playoffs, it was 98.1 points, 14th of 16 teams.
Last year, they averaged 114 points in their five-game second-round series loss to Indiana. In their final two losses, they scored 109 and 104 points. Defense was more of a problem in that series.
Clippers Harden Basketball
James Harden is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. AP
The big guard
There has been concern for several years that the Cavs’ backcourt of 6-foot-1 Garland and 6-foot-2 Mitchell was too small for long-term playoff success. The slight Garland especially was exploited on defense because of his lack of size and strength.
“We’re getting a 6-foot-5 point guard,” Altman said of Harden. “It’s a departure from what we’ve played with before. He’s a big dude. He’s strong and powerful … He’s ninth in the league in drives (to the basket).”
Harden also is fourth in the NBA in free throws attempted, and he’s making 90% from the foul line. That could help in a playoff series against teams that slow down the pace. It also will take pressure off Mitchell to carry the entire scoring load in those postseason games.
Altman called the Harden trade “monumental.” Atkinson labeled it “a swing to make us better.”
As I mentioned at the start of this story, I’m writing this from the point of view of the Cavs. For them, the bottom line is Harden is the superior player right now as compared to Garland. They also know if they didn’t go after Harden and failed in the playoffs, they’d always regret it.