Brian Windhorst recently reported the Cleveland Cavaliers were finally willing to break up the core four in an all-in move at the trade deadline.
Nobody would have predicted the name the Cavs targeted would be James Harden.
Initially reported by Chris Mannix, the Cavaliers and LA Clippers are in advanced talks to swap Darius Garland for 11-time All-Star James Harden. The 36-year-old veteran star has been the Clippers' lone constant as an offensive engine. Scoring 25.4 points and 8.1 assists per game, Harden is proving himself still to be an elite point guard at his advanced age.
As for Cleveland, Garland has struggled with another injury-riddled season and has seen a drop in production as a result. Averaging 18 points per game on alright efficiency.
Financially, the trade functions as a pure one-for-one swap. Garland is owed roughly $300,000 more than Harden this season, which is enough that the Clips can absorb the addition salary without issue.
With rumors flying that connect the Cavaliers to the ultimate trade deadline asset of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the real question is not whether Harden is a talented star. The confusion stems from if the Cavaliers are making a star trade just to make one. Harden is, by most metrics, better than Garland, and that likely feeds into the Cavs' position.
Why the Cavaliers want Harden (probably)
With the fourth season of the current core struggling to find any consistency, the last window to build a real contender around Mitchell is closing quickly. Harden gives the Cavaliers an accomplished talent and proven leader. Despite Harden's own postseason hiccups, he has put together some of the most mesmerizing moments of recent history.
Over his career, Harden has averaged 22.5 points in the playoffs alongside 6.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He has consistently produced as a long-range threat both on the ball and off the ball. In Harden's best postseason run, he played alongside the undersized Chris Paul and took the dynastic Golden State Warriors through a heated 2018 Western Conference Finals seven-game battle.
The constant criticism the Cavs' backcourt duo has faced has not been talent, but rather size. Both Garland and Mitchell are undersized for their position. Harden, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 220 pounds, changes that dynamic.
Additionally, Harden's finances are more easily managed than Garland's contract. Harden will enter the last year of his deal next season, meaning the Cavs can easily change course if the pairing doesn't work out. If the Cavaliers can manage to reach or win the Finals in that time, then the trade has already paid off.
Harden is a confusing but good fit with Mitchell
Undeniably, Harden is a high-usage player. He currently sits at 31.2 percent usage rate for the Clippers. He is shooting 17.5 field goals per night, and is almost always the main initiator of the offense.
As many teams have learned in attempts to build a super team, no matter how much talent shares the court, there is still only one basketball and 48 minutes to divide among the rotation. If Harden continues to be the heliocentric engine he is now, then it is impossible to imagine a healthy relationship between himself and Mitchell.
Looking back to his time with Paul, though, the Cavs could believe he is better suited to share the offensive duties as he did back then. Harden is often remembered most fondly for his time with the Houston Rockets. He won an MVP with the franchise and is one of the greates players to wear their jersey.
His Rockets peak was with another high-usage guard. Mitchell has thrived with Garland, still reaching career heights despite having to play off-ball more often. The Cavaliers may view a Harden-Mitchell backcourt as an elevated version of the Houston duo that pushed the Warriors to the brink of collapse.
The case against Harden on the Cavs
The 11-time All-Star is an exciting player to watch, but 11 All-Star appearances means at least 11 years in the league. For Harden, he as played 17 seasons. His best years in Houston were nearly a decade ago, and his Clippers tenure has not resulted in enough to convince any fan that he easily takes the Cavaliers to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Defensively, Harden is not worse than Garland, but he is not an improvement on the perimeter. In the post, Harden's size and strength make him a viable opponent. Chasing down shifty guards on the arc, however, is a liability for Harden just as much as it is with Garland.
Beyond the court, Harden has also had his fair share of unnecessary drama whenever he feels unsettled with his current sitation. He has forced his way out of numerous teams and could be a questionable fit for the Cavaliers' current culture.
The Cavaliers are nonetheless linked to Harden, and the rumors are not just general interest. James Harden did not play for the Clippers only hours before the first news from Mannix dropped, and shortly thereafter Shams Charania confirmed Harden and LA were working towards a separation before the deadline.
By the time the February 5 trade deadline bell tolls, the Cleveland Cavaliers fan base will know the outcome. Perhaps the Cavs welcome The Beard with hopes of winning the Finals, or it may be nothing more than wild speculation.
Now would be an appropriate time for the Windhorst gif.