James Harden’s Move Renews Cavaliers’ Faith

DONOVAN MITCHELL QUICKLY SURVEYED a post-game statistical sheet before scanning the Cleveland Cavaliers’ locker room.

“Hey, James,” he exclaimed, addressing his newly acquired teammate.

This occurred on February 24, mere moments after the Cavaliers secured one of their most impressive victories of the season, prevailing 109-94 over the New York Knicks in a significant matchup between the two franchises initially favored in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland had previously suffered losses in their initial two encounters with New York this season, both high-stakes games—the season opener and Christmas Day—despite Mitchell registering over 30 points and consistently shooting 12-of-25 from the field in each contest.

However, on this specific evening, marking the first time these two teams met since Cleveland reshaped its roster at the trade deadline, Mitchell managed just 5-for-18 shooting, concluding with 23 points… and the Cavaliers emerged victorious.

As Mitchell reviewed the detailed report, another figure caught his attention: 14. This was the count of free throws he attempted during the game.

“I’m taking your free throws since you can’t earn any,” Mitchell playfully shouted to Harden from across the locker room. “I never get that many.”

Harden concluded the game with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, yet he failed to reach the foul line. This marked only the third instance in the past two seasons where Harden completed a game without a single free throw attempt.

“Well, one of us might as well,” Harden responded, shaking his head. “As long as one of us is getting them.”

The genesis of this partnership between Cleveland’s backcourt tandem could not have unfolded more seamlessly—or arrived at a more crucial juncture.

The Cavaliers achieved victory in six of their initial seven games following the trade deadline, a period when they exchanged 26-year-old former All-Star Darius Garland for the 36-year-old Harden. Mitchell acknowledged this aggressive move was precisely what the squad required to leverage its contention window.

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THE CAVALIERS WERE among the most proactive and assertive organizations within the league during the deadline period, offloading their key acquisition from the previous year’s deadline, De’Andre Hunter, and their offseason addition, Lonzo Ball—along with Garland, who had been grappling with injuries all season—in a series of transactions that brought Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, and Harden aboard to bolster a squad lacking depth.

Mitchell and Harden have each amassed numerous distinctions throughout their NBA careers—multiple All-Star selections, All-NBA honors, and, in Harden’s instance, an MVP trophy. Yet, ultimate playoff triumph as primary figures has eluded them. Harden’s sole NBA Finals appearance occurred in his third professional year in 2012. Mitchell has never advanced to the conference finals.

“These are two individuals eager to achieve the next level of success,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson remarked last week. “They’ve truly connected well. It’s been incredibly smooth, honestly. Both are immensely passionate about basketball. They’re both absolute hoop fanatics.

“Typically, when such synergy exists, outcomes are favorable. With them, I haven’t observed any misunderstandings or ‘You should have gone there’ moments. They’ve remained quite focused, both on and off the court. It couldn’t have unfolded better so far.”

Atkinson stated that Harden’s incorporation has alleviated pressure on Mitchell, who had been shouldering the burden of the team’s injury woes and inconsistent performances earlier in the season. Mitchell’s 32.8 usage rate this season stands as his highest since the 2019-20 campaign, his final year with the Utah Jazz, and ranks him fifth across the NBA.

During his post-game press conference subsequent to defeating the Knicks, Mitchell referenced Cleveland’s prior contest against New York, held on Christmas Day, as a benchmark for the team’s progress.

The Cavaliers appeared far from the pre-season contender they were projected to be, struggling at the onset with a record barely exceeding .500 (17-15) after squandering a 20-point advantage to the Knicks.

Since that point, the Cavs have compiled a 21-9 record, marking the third-best performance in the NBA during that period, successfully turning around what seemed destined to be a disastrous follow-up to their 64-win regular season in 2024-25, which had already concluded with a disappointing second-round exit against the Indiana Pacers.

The conclusion of last season represented the most recent playoff letdown in the Mitchell era. Confronted with the prospect of another discouraging season, the Cavaliers opted for a player renowned for his own history of postseason underperformance.

The Cavaliers’ recent surge has been tempered by a couple of star player injuries. Mitchell has been sidelined for the last three games due to a groin issue, and Harden sustained a fractured right thumb last week. Mitchell’s status is day-to-day, and Atkinson expressed no long-term concerns regarding his injury.

Harden made his return on Sunday after missing two games, with Atkinson acknowledging that Harden was clearly not at full strength but was needed by the team. He has been observed wearing a wrap around his thumb, and Atkinson mentioned on Friday that the star guard was still experiencing difficulty dribbling and catching the ball without discomfort.

Nevertheless, despite the fractured thumb, Harden has transformed a team riddled with uncertainties into one that now possesses solutions—at least for the time being. The Cavaliers have previously attributed playoff eliminations to injuries, but this season, they were determined not to jeopardize another opportunity within what they perceived as an open championship window.

“Sometimes with change, you inherently recognize if it won’t succeed,” Atkinson shared with ESPN. “This move has instilled such a renewed sense of vigor in us.”

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TO FIND INSPIRATION on navigating a protracted season, Atkinson sought lessons from baseball.

Members of the Cleveland Guardians’ coaching staff visited the Cavaliers’ facility during a December practice, precisely amidst one of the team’s most challenging periods of the season. It was then that Atkinson became acquainted with the Guardians’ experiences from the preceding season.

After reaching the American League Championship Series in 2024, the Guardians commenced the subsequent season with heightened expectations. However, the team endured a 10-game losing streak, falling below a .500 record prior to the All-Star break, and later suffered nine losses in ten games during another difficult stretch in August.

Despite this, the Guardians staged a comeback, concluding with a 24-8 run to claim the AL Central division title and re-enter the playoffs. Inside the training complex, Atkinson listened intently to their narratives.

“What enabled you to overcome that?” he inquired.

Jose Ramirez, the Guardians’ star third baseman, they explained. He had maintained the team’s composure during their difficult phases. It then became clear to Atkinson. “That’s Donovan Mitchell,” he mentally noted.

“It’s absolutely vital that your top player doesn’t waver,” Atkinson asserted.

“Donovan was pivotal in that. He’s an inherently positive individual. He consistently steered us in the correct direction. In my view, if your leader begins to doubt or question, then you’re facing serious trouble.”

To emerge from their early-season slump, the Cavaliers convened team discussions. They arranged player-exclusive film analysis sessions. They organized team dinners. There were candid conversations, assurances about the marathon nature of a season, and various other approaches.

“We were articulating the appropriate sentiments,” Cavs guard Sam Merrill disclosed to ESPN. “Yet, for some reason, [we] struggled to consistently manifest them on the court.” Cleveland was also frequently understaffed. Max Strus, who has primarily started over the past two seasons, has not yet participated this season. Garland missed the beginning of the season recovering from toe surgery and had an inconsistent presence in the lineup upon his return.

Consequently, Mitchell bore a greater portion of the workload. Beyond his average of 28.5 points (ranking seventh in the NBA), he started initiating more offensive plays. The Cavaliers observed the strain this increased responsibility began to exert on their star athlete.

Following their Christmas Day defeat to the Knicks and a 17-point loss to the Rockets two days thereafter, the Cavaliers faced the risk of dropping to a .500 record before securing a victory against the San Antonio Spurs on December 29. Merrill noted that rallying for a win in that game felt like a crucial juncture in their turnaround.

“Don is essentially the embodiment of our current state, and he’s also the most outspoken,” Merrill commented. “He was the steadfast presence throughout all our injuries and initial season struggles. He was consistently on the court, performing exceptionally, and I believe if not for him, our situation would have been significantly worse.”

Nevertheless, sources close to Mitchell conveyed to ESPN that the Cavaliers’ star was insistent that the team should not remain passive during the trade deadline. Cleveland began to scrutinize its roster composition more closely, seeking avenues to maximize its prospects of winning what the team still regarded as an open conference.

“I refer to it as the five whys,” Atkinson explained. “We need to thoroughly examine why, why, why, why, why? You delve deeper into every aspect of your operations.”

Their conclusion, they determined, involved moving on from Garland, whom they had selected with the No. 5 pick in 2019, and who subsequently blossomed into an All-Star, both before Mitchell’s arrival and then alongside his new backcourt partner. These two, complemented by big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were designated the team’s “core four” as Cleveland’s future began to take shape.

Subsequently, a toe injury hindered Garland during the playoffs last season, and the ailment persisted into the current season.

Garland appeared in 26 games for the Cavaliers before the trade, and he has not played in a single game since January 14. Despite the regular-season triumphs of the core four, including securing the No. 1 seed in the East last season, the Cavaliers have not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since the 2017-18 squad, led by LeBron James, reached the NBA Finals.

Injuries have historically played a role, and the team has previously cited health concerns as justification for past disappointments. However, the Cavaliers were unwilling to leave success to chance this season.

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INTRODUCING JAMES HARDEN, an athlete whose consistent availability and resilience are as defining of his reputation as his passing prowess and scoring expertise. Over the last three seasons, Harden has participated in 202 games, 44 more contests than Garland.

“He plays. He didn’t skip games, nor did he miss practices,” stated Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who coached Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2022-23 season.

Harden’s inclusion has infused an elite pick-and-roll strategist into the Cavaliers’ offensive scheme. According to GeniusIQ, Harden’s teams have averaged 1.068 points per direct pick when he operates as the ball handler during that period, whereas Garland’s career average stands at 1.004.

“We’ve sometimes faced difficulties with late-game offense, and he’s been exceptional at calming us, positioning us correctly, and creating plays from those situations,” Merrill remarked. “He maintains offensive command at all times.”

Furthermore, Harden’s playmaking skills have swiftly influenced Cleveland’s frontcourt players, especially Allen. In the eight games Allen has contested alongside Harden, he has achieved a double-double in six of them. He also contributed 20 points in Sunday’s 106-102 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN Research indicates that Harden has provided assists on 17 field goals for Allen, making them the fourth most effective passer-scorer combination in the NBA during that timeframe.

“We’re in a good position,” Harden commented last week when assessing the team’s overall status. “But we still have several more levels to reach.”

Allen’s improved performance actually commenced a few days prior to Harden’s arrival—he averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and shot 74% in 11 games last month—but, akin to the Cavaliers as a collective, Harden has only amplified these positive developments.

“Our confidence is revitalized,” Allen declared. “When substantial changes like this occur, your perspective shifts. You gain increased self-assurance. … I’m simply finding my rhythm. Teammates are passing me the ball, Kenny is designing plays for me; everything is just clicking.”

And this holds true for the entire squad as well.

Despite their defeat to the Detroit Pistons last Friday, played without Mitchell and Harden, Mobley expressed certainty regarding the Cavaliers’ potential to compete effectively against them in the postseason.

“I believe we are among the elite teams,” Mobley asserted. “They will, frankly, have to contend with us.”

Harden’s presence signifies an investment in the Cavaliers’ current standing, as much as they hope it defines their future.

Mitchell, at 29 years old, has one guaranteed season remaining on a three-year, $150 million contract, with a player option for the 2027-28 season.

“As a whole, we are incredibly cohesive,” Atkinson noted. “Ownership, front office, star player—this isn’t always the norm. Divisions can arise. ‘Hey, maintain the course.'”

“I can’t recall the precise moment, but we simply understood. … And then the question arose, what possibilities lay before us?”

What was under consideration was an 11-time All-Star. And their commitment to him has already begun to yield positive results.

Whether these benefits will persist remains the central question the Cavaliers aim to resolve.

“It’s invariably challenging when the trade deadline approaches because it extends beyond mere basketball for us,” Allen expressed last week. “It’s more than just striving for that ultimate objective with the finest players on the court. You aspire to achieve it with the individuals you’ve grown and developed alongside. However, simultaneously incorporating players of that caliber undeniably adds a degree of pressure, as this constitutes a pivotal, make-or-break type of maneuver.”