The Fear the Sword staff has had some time to digest the James Harden for Darius Garland trade, as well as see what Harden looks like in wine and gold. That makes it a perfect time to answer five questions about the trade and what it means for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season.
What are your first impressions of Harden as a Cavalier?
Mike Anguilano: Adding one of the best pick-and-roll passers ever will immediately make Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley (less so, but still) even more valuable on offense. Harden’s clutch shot-making was on full display against the Sacramento Kings, but the fact that he was so open because defenses had to scramble after Donovan Mitchell is even more encouraging. That is a true pick-your-poison backcourt pairing in a way that Darius Garland was not quite at the level of.
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Corey Walsh: Harden on the Cavaliers is something I do not think I will ever be able to comprehend. Against the Kings, it felt like one could see Harden’s mindset and comfort level increase as the game went along. In the first quarter, he avoided stepping on toes, opting to facilitate. By the end of the game, he was comfortable shooting from his spots. It’ll be fascinating to see the role evolve in the final games of the regular season.
Jackson Flickinger: The gravity that Harden has as an offensive player is more than I anticipated. It’s incredible to see someone command so much attention from a defense while also sharing the floor with Mitchell. This is the most offensively skilled backcourt in franchise history.
What are you most excited about with the Harden addition?
MA: It was a shock to see the Cavs have to throw in a pick for the Clippers to take Garland, but that is how it sometimes goes with injured, expensive players. The addition of Harden immediately puts the Cavs into even more of a win-now territory, but this doesn’t feel as much of a risk compared to some other “all-in” type moves. Harden and Mitchell is a lethal backcourt pairing in a way that Garland was not able to fully level up to. Or at least not consistently enough.
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CW: His ability to get the bigs, specifically Jarrett Allen, involved after what has been a disappointing campaign, is intriguing. It was apparent from the get-go that Harden’s passing was going to add another layer to the Cavaliers’ offensive play, something that Mitchell at the point guard was never going to bring.
JF: I’m interested to see how the chemistry grows between Mitchell and Harden. It’s clear after one game that they can be the most dynamic backcourt in the league. How does that develop? Can they become better than the sum of their parts?
This offense will still be good if they just reverted to playing, your turn, my turn basketball. If they truly bought into playing off each other, this could be really special.
What will you miss most about Darius Garland?
MA: Garland was the first player I truly got to interview and ask questions to. During All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, back in 2022, he was donating band uniforms to a local high school with a high percentage of disadvantaged students. I asked Darius about being named an All-Star for the first time, what it means to him, and his growth as a player, and what his favorite local restaurants are that he would be recommending to the other All-Stars. He was great to talk to, very genuine, and had some great answers. In addition to his status as a young, All-Star caliber player, I’ll miss the Cavs losing an all-around good person.
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CW: Truthfully, Garland was the emotional core of the Cavaliers since roughly 2021. To lose Darius removes a lot of the culture the Cavaliers have cultivated over the years. While that hasn’t translated into playoff success, this team oozed vibes. I feel like they are shifting from one that seemed like a family to a team that feels more corporate.
JF: Just watching the infectious joy Garland plays with. There was something so satisfying about watching the way he would pick apart a defense, and then skip down the court like he was playing pick up with his friends.
On top of that, his style of play was incredibly entertaining. The way Garland would probe the defense, keep his dribble alive, and find passing angles that you didn’t even know were there was so much fun to watch.
What is your biggest concern about the trade?
MA: Another fade out in the playoffs is the biggest fear, and it’s not close. The narrative around Harden and his inability to perform consistently in the playoffs aligns eerily close to the Cavs’ story. The fit on the court between him and Mitchell is not nearly as concerning as I think there is enough time to figure it out. Harden has played with other high-usage players and things have worked out fine…in the regular season.
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CW: Outside of postseason success, which I believe is the most obvious and discussed flaw. I think about how this team handles the on and off-floor chemistry between Harden and Mitchell.
Harden’s currently expressed willingness to be the second banana in Cleveland and seems willing to go with the flow. What happens when the Cavaliers begin to flounder, or if they exit in the second round again? How will Harden’s stance about the team warp? He has a track record of not handling middling results well.
JF: The perimeter defense is a problem. While Garland wasn’t a defensive specialist, he could stay in front of his man better than Harden. That has me worried in a playoff series against a team like the Boston Celtics that can space the floor and attack you off-the-dribble with playmakers at every position.
Which Eastern Conference team is the biggest threat to the Cavs?
MA: The New York Knicks, but it is close. Boston is not fully healthy, which limits their offense. The Detroit Pistons make a very strong case, but they have some holes that could become chasms in the playoffs if exposed properly. But the Knicks are a more cohesive unit, boast one of the league’s best offenses behind Jalen Brunson, and have enough on the defensive side to string stops together.
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CW: Barring a Tatum return for Boston, it has to be the Knicks, right? The Knicks have the same makeup of a team that can turn on the physical dial, and adding Harden doesn’t change the calculus. As long as players like Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, and Brunson are on this roster, they will have the Cavaliers’ number until something changes.
JF: The Celtics, even without Tatum, are a problem. They have the talent and versatile playmakers to hurt the Cavs in a lot of the ways the Indiana Pacers did last season. Even though this is a very different Cavs team, this group still has a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses.
