CLEVELAND, Ohio — The James Harden trade is already paying massive dividends for the Cavs, but perhaps no one is benefitting more than Jarrett Allen.
In the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast episode, host Ethan Sands and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins broke down how Harden’s arrival has supercharged Allen’s production, with the center recording his fourth consecutive double-double in the Cavs’ thrilling victory over the Denver Nuggets.
“The Cavs need Jarrett Allen and James Harden is consistently making him better already. The conversations that we’ve seen on the sidelines of them talking, trying to figure out angles and all these things, but just the connective tissue between those two,” Sands observed, highlighting the immediate chemistry forming between the two players.
What’s particularly striking is how quickly this partnership has developed despite minimal practice time together. The podcast revealed that Harden’s history of elevating big men makes this pairing potentially game-changing for Cleveland’s offensive structure.
Watkins explained the fundamental relationship between Allen’s involvement and his overall effectiveness: “The Cavs do not go as Jarrett Allen goes. Jarrett Allen goes as the Cavs go. They put the battery in him that he needs. This is just big man 101, man. They need the ball to play with energy. And James Harden’s really good at finding \[bigs\]. Look what James Harden turned Clint Capella into in Houston.
“Joel Embiid has one MVP playing with James Harden. Coincidence? I don’t know. He didn’t win any MVPs without James Harden, that much I know. This is what James Harden does with big men.”
Under Harden’s guidance in Houston, Capela transformed from a raw talent to an elite rim-runner who averaged career highs across the board. The podcast suggests Allen could experience a similar evolution, especially given his superior skill set.
What makes this pairing particularly potent is Harden’s physical advantages over previous Cavaliers playmakers.
As Watkins explained, “This is why having James Harden for Jarrett Allen matters a ton. Because he’s taller, he’s frankly a better passer than Darius. But he could also see more passing angles than Darius. There are going to be more opportunities to get Jarrett Allen in involved and that’s going to unlock everything else for Jarrett Allen.”
The podcast discussion revealed how Allen’s performance against a championship-caliber Denver team — anchored by perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokić — displayed a newfound resilience. In previous seasons, Allen might have faded from the game after facing physical challenges, but with Harden consistently finding him in scoring positions, Allen remained engaged and effective throughout the contest.
This engagement creates a virtuous cycle: more offensive touches lead to increased defensive intensity, which in turn makes the entire Cavaliers squad more dangerous on both ends of the floor. The hosts emphasized that while Allen has always shown flashes of brilliance, Harden’s presence provides the consistency needed to transform those flashes into sustainable excellence.
Perhaps most encouraging for Cavaliers fans is how this partnership could evolve once Evan Mobley returns from injury. The podcast suggested that the Harden-Allen pick-and-roll combination could become one of the most lethal in the Eastern Conference, complementing the Mitchell-Mobley pairing that head coach Kenny Atkinson has cultivated throughout the season.
As the Cavaliers continue their impressive four-game winning streak and boast the NBA’s best record since December 29th, the Harden-Allen connection stands as perhaps the most promising development for a team with championship aspirations.
Want to hear more analysis of the budding chemistry between James Harden and Jarrett Allen? Check out the full episode of the Wine & Gold Talk podcast for expert insights into how this pairing could redefine Cleveland’s ceiling this season.
Here’s the podcast for this week: