Harden Trade Lifts Cavaliers’ Championship Expectations, Mitchell Says
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James Harden’s arrival in Cleveland has Donovan Mitchell convinced the Cavaliers can contend for a title this season.
Harden, the only former NBA Most Valuable Player moved in this week’s flurry of trades, was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in exchange for guard Darius Garland and a 2027 second-round pick. Speaking with reporters, Mitchell said the veteran playmaker raises Cleveland’s ceiling and aligns with the franchise’s win-now approach.
“Our ceiling is higher,” Mitchell told Cleveland.com. “We all know what he brings. We haven’t been able to get it done the past three years, and now the goal is to try to get it done.”
The Cavaliers first explored a Harden deal about six weeks ago, according to ESPN and Andscape reports. During that span, Harden’s representatives gauged league interest, with a possible reunion in Houston considered before the Rockets declined to pursue the 10-time All-Star.
Cleveland, seeking additional playmaking alongside Mitchell, saw Harden as an ideal fit to maximize frontcourt standouts Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Garland had previously shared those duties but has battled toe problems for the past year. Team president Koby Altman dismissed speculation the organization was frustrated with Garland’s durability, calling such talk “BS.”
Mitchell and Harden spoke extensively by phone Tuesday night, solidifying their desire to pair up in the backcourt, according to The Athletic and Cleveland.com. Mitchell acknowledged he will need to operate more off the ball but said both guards are willing to adjust for the sake of a championship push.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson echoed that confidence. “Great players fit together,” Atkinson said. “With high-IQ players like these, it gets a lot easier for the coaching staff to figure out rotations and staggering.”
Harden joins Cleveland averaging 19.4 points and 8.1 assists this season. The Cavaliers, fourth in the Eastern Conference at 36-18, hope his addition can propel them beyond the second round for the first time since 2018.
Source: Hoops Rumors
