The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off one of the more shocking trades of the trade deadline when they swapped All-Star point guard Darius Garland for future hall of famer guard James Harden.
This comes after years of Garland in trade rumors and Cleveland refusing to move him or the other members of their core. After all, Garland was a homegrown star for the Cavs, had been named an All-Star twice, and had always expressed a desire to remain in Cleveland.
There were factors out of his control though. Garland has never been healthy for a Cavs playoff run and given the fact that Cleveland desperately needs a deep playoff run, relying on Garland’s health was a losing battle. He still has not recovered from offseason toe surgery and injured his other toe last month. Taking that all into consideration, one thing is clear about the Garland-Harden swap.
James Harden elevates the Cavs and their playoff ceiling this season
Harden offers 173 games worth of playoff experience, is one of the best floor generals in the NBA even at 36-years old, and he is durable. He is a walking 20 points per game and can also dish out ten assists as well.
In the three games he has played for Cleveland, Harden’s impact has been felt. Against Sacramento and Denver, he teamed up with Donovan Mitchell in the fourth quarter to close out both games. Having those two as a duo in the clutch will be a headache for any opposing team.
Harden’s gravity has also opened the floor for the entire offense. He commands so much attention coming off ball screens, oftentimes drawing two defenders. With that comes four-on-three advantages in favor of the Cavs and that gets the defense in rotation. Cleveland’s strength is their ball movement and having Harden only amplifies that strength.
Harden does have his well-documented playoff struggles. There is no doubt that he has some inexplicable performances in the spring. However, he also does have his fair share of great games. He has been able to maintain his 20 PPG average and always sits around seven or eight assists per game, marks that would be far better than Garland’s. Harden is also playing next to a dominant playoff performer in Mitchell, who will make his life easier.
The Cavs sensed that the East was wide-open and knew that they had to take advantage. Having Harden in the fold elevates their playoff ceiling and should give Cleveland that deep run they have been craving.
