When will James Harden debut with the Cavs?
On Tuesday evening, The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a trade for James Hardensending Darius Garland and a second-round pick in a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. This signals that the Cavs are feeling a bit desperate to try to do their current core job, as Harden has been healthier and more productive than Garland this season.
It is not entirely clear, however, when Harden will take the court for the first time as a member of the Cavs. He missed the previous two games to the Clippers for personal reasonsand it’s not certain whether those personal reasons ever applied to his eventual trade request being granted by the Clippers.
The earliest Harden can take the floor for the Cavs is Wednesday, when, poetically, they play a Clippers team that is likely to get Garland back in action a little while longer. This would be the right game for Harden to make his Cavs debut.
In all likelihood, Harden may continue to be sidelined tomorrow, instead making his debut for the Cavs on Saturday when they come up against the Sacramento Kings — another team Cleveland traded with.
James Harden, the Cavs have one goal in mind
The Cavs brought in Harden to boost their title chances this season. Harden is not a significant player for the playoffs; in fact, he has a history of seeing his play decline in the postseason. Regardless, he helps the Cavs get better in the regular season after a slow start in 2025-26, and he doesn’t need to be the main man in the playoffs anyway because he’ll step aside from Donovan Mitchell.
No one can say for sure if it is an addition Harden will be what the Cavs take over the hump. But The Beard is at least somewhat of a better defender than Garland because he can defend the post well, and an increase in defensive strength may be all Cleveland needs to improve on its previous playoff results.
2026-02-04 04:42:00
