Cavaliers Gauge Giannis Availability, Intensify James Harden Negotiations
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have entered several high-profile trade discussions in the run-up to Thursday’s NBA deadline, league sources told multiple outlets.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Cleveland recently contacted the Milwaukee Bucks to ask about two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Around the same time, the front office also inquired about Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, illustrating how broad the club’s search has become.
Any blockbuster remains complicated. The Cavaliers sit roughly $14 million above the second tax apron, a position that prevents them from combining salaries and makes matching Antetokounmpo’s $54 million-plus contract nearly impossible without trimming significant payroll first.
Even so, executives say the organization is more willing than ever to discuss players once deemed untouchable, including Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Concerns about the current roster’s championship ceiling and uncertainty over Donovan Mitchell’s long-term future are driving that shift, Windhorst reported.
League skepticism on a Giannis deal
Across the NBA, doubts persist that Milwaukee will act before the deadline. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Monday night that offers for Antetokounmpo were considered underwhelming, with many agents and executives expecting negotiations to extend into the offseason. Waiting would give the Bucks greater clarity on draft positioning, additional bidders and leverage over 2026 draft assets.
Cleveland, Clippers talk Harden
While pursuing long-shot stars, Cleveland has also “ramped up” discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers on a framework centered on James Harden for Garland, per TNT and Bleacher Report insider Chris Haynes. Talks intensified Tuesday afternoon, and although Harden’s status remains fluid, sources say the Cavaliers’ interest is genuine.
With Garland, Allen and Harden all in active conversations, Cleveland has firmly planted itself in this week’s deadline drama. Executives describe a front office that is “calling and listening” rather than guarding every asset, signaling a new level of flexibility for a team eyeing a deeper playoff run.
Source: Hoops Wire
