Cavs trade grade for Darius Garland-James Harden blockbuster

The Cleveland Cavaliers were trading Darius Garland and their 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for James HardenClutchPoints learned through multiple league sources. In a shocking move before Thursday NBA trade deadlineThe Cavs dealt their two-time All-Star point guard for a veteran looking for NBA championship gold and financial security.

We’re already done Cleveland’s possible motive behind such a move. What about Harden’s ability as a player? Let’s take it off.

First, consider the possibilities with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Harden is a pick-and-roll expert who can make perfectly placed one-handed jumpers in the pocket for big shots. There’s a reason Ivica Zubac loves playing with him, as do Joel Embiid and Clint Capela. Mobley’s appearance will come more often and in better positions.

He has his own pace on the perimeter, puts defenses to sleep and picks his moments. It’s either a step back and pull, looking for contact on drives, or a lob when drawing defenders. It also has a niche to push over the top.

Harden next to Donovan Mitchell is a different story. The main knock on the Garland-Mitchell backfield has been that the two small backs can’t coexist as ball-dominant players. What do we think Harden is? Any cutting-edge, spot-up aficionados?

The difference between a Garland-Mitchell backcourt and a Harden-Mitchell backcourt is a slower game, a beard, four inches of height, 10 years of age and 25 pounds of muscle. Unless Mitchell comes off the rock, plants himself on the perimeter or is put in screening actions, the same questions will be asked. There will probably be more things taking turns than working as a tandem.

Defensively, Harden is a bigger body, which, physically, is fine. Laterally, he is unable to keep up with the younger, taller, faster backs in this league. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers are allowing 120.6 points per 100 possessions on 55.8% effective field goal percentage with him on the floor. When Harden sits, LA’s defensive rating improves to 112.7 and opponents’ eFG% drops to 52.0%.

Depending on Cleveland’s lineup, Mobley and Allen provide coverage for that. But at the same time, teams will choose a senior vet every time, just like they did with Garland; what is the use of greatness if it is little worked with? Guarding pick-and-roll players holding the ball, Harden is allowing 0.89 points per possession and teams are scoring on 43.6% of their possessions. Against rollers, that number is 1.15 PPP at 55.6%.

Harden’s only redeeming quality on that end is his ability to elevate. His isolation defense (0.72 PPP) is actually in the top 10 in the league, and he’s been solid on the block for some time now.

Harden’s offensive talent comes without a doubt. The 36-year-old is having an admirable season, averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in over 35 minutes per game in 44 contests. He and Kawhi Leonard were guys keep LA in the hunt in the Western Conference after an insignificant beginning.

The Clippers’ ORTG is a ridiculous 120.3 with him on the court and 109.6 without him, and the team is improving in free throw rate (25.8 made per 100 field goal attempts). Going downhill and driving to the basket at his own pace is what makes him so good at his craft, and it forces the opposition to react.

Keep in mind that it’s all about half-court. The Cavs, who have been focused on upping the tempo lately, will have to reinvent their style with Harden. He and the Clippers play at a fast pace. Historically, Harden’s average possession per game has not exceeded 100 since the pandemic season.

You can’t hide the fact that Harden is in the final stages of his playing career. He doesn’t depend on athleticism to be effective, so he could play another two or three seasons. He is also available and has been durable throughout his career. But he’s looking for that last (so we think) payoff.

Despite how well he played and how he fits in the organization alongside Leonard, the Clippers didn’t want to give him the amount of the extension he was asking for. Meanwhile, he seeks cover, which is understandable given his age. Whether or not the Cavs provide that remains to be seen.

The labels are usually overblown, but the patterns are hard to ignore. While that shouldn’t be viewed as an individual stat, Harden’s playoff reputation precedes himself.

He has been to 16 postseasons with five different teams. With the exception of his sixth-man formation with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden has been to the conference finals just twice in his career. The teams he was in five times got out of the first round of the playoffs and were eliminated in the second round as many times.

Cleveland’s fit grade is incomplete because we don’t know what’s next for him or the Cavs, who are still actively looking for ways to reshape this roster. This is more about walking away from Garland’s money to get under another apron than acquiring Harden.

As a standalone transaction, this makes no sense now or in the near future.