‘Two sides of the story’

After he made his The Cleveland Cavaliers make their home debut at Rocket Arenaalongside fellow rookies Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder, James Harden he took the time to convey a strong message about the loyalty of NBA players. The 11-time All-Star and 2017-18 MVP spoke passionately about the subject when asked why he and players of his caliber kept switching teams as often as they did.

“I mean, it’s basketball and the whole quote-unquote loyalty thing, I think it’s overrated,” Harden said after the Cavs blew out the Washington Wizards to extend their winning streak to five games. “This is a business at the end of the day, there’s a lot of money involved and a lot of decisions that have to be made.”

“Like, if a player isn’t producing or you don’t see him in the future, (then) the front office, some of them have to do a job and they want to keep their job. So they feel like they have to do what’s best to keep their job, and they trade players. Or, if a guy’s not happy and wants to be traded, then the problem is somewhere else.”

The Cavs are the fifth team for which Harden has played in his career, and the fourth organization he has dealt with in the past five years. After eight seasons and a trade with the Houston Rockets, he was sent to the Brooklyn Nets. A year and a half later, the Nets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. After an argument with the Sixers president Daryl Moreywho was once his most ardent fan during their time together in Houston, Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Unlike the breakup in Philly or any of the previously unceremonious endings, the Clippers’ exit was amicable and clean, with no hard feelings on either side.

“So many different dynamics go into it,” Harden said. “This is a business at the end of the day. Not even just the NBA, but, like, people who have normal jobs have the same problems; it’s just not magnified, you know what I mean?”

“So for me, I don’t lose focus trying to compete for the championship and, financially, take care of my family. Because I’m very smart, and I’ve sacrificed a lot financially, which I don’t deserve; it’s not talked about, but I’m fulfilled, and I’m satisfied.”

Harden’s motivation behind the latest chapter in his journey with Cleveland it is twofold.

“Winning a championship, or at least having a shot at it, and then paying financially for being available and playing at the highest level for so long,” Harden said. “So this is a business at the end of the day. I feel like ultimately the players should do what’s best for them and the front office does what’s best for them and their owner and their organization.”

“There are two sides to the story.”

Under the contract, Harden and the Cavs will have to come up with details after the NBA Finals. He has $13.3 million of his $42.3 million player option that kicks in on June 29 before becoming fully vested on July 11. Whether he will decide or not to restructure the new contract is a conversation for a few months later.

For now, does he believe the Cavs have the stuff to accomplish his first goal?

“Yeah,” Harden said bluntly. “I don’t know how many times I’ve actually said that in my career.

“But given the depth, given the shooting, the athleticism, the versatility that we have, yes.