The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to make strategic moves. After bringing in Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to strengthen their bench, they have now added a future Hall of Famer.
James Harden will join the Cavaliers, while Darius Garland will head to the Los Angeles Clippers. This trade was unexpected, occurring just a day after news broke about Harden’s wish to leave.
Harden stated that he was not unhappy in Los Angeles or at odds with the team. He mentioned he did not want to hinder the Clippers’ future plans.
James Harden discusses the trade
“[I] didn’t want to feel like I was holding the Clippers up in their future. I wanted them to actually have a chance to rebuild and get some draft capital,” Harden said, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
While Harden did not formally ask for a trade, he felt both sides had outgrown each other and he saw better opportunities for winning in Cleveland.
“In Cleveland, I see an opportunity to win in the East—they’ve got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go; I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance,” Harden added.
The topic of Harden’s legacy is often debated. He is known as one of the best scorers and playmakers, but his postseason struggles and frequent team changes have affected how he is viewed.
The Cavaliers are making bold moves at the cost of their core players, and given Garland’s past injuries, they may doubt his return to peak form.