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The Fear the Sword staff has had some time to digest the James Harden for Darius Garland trade, as well as see what Harden looks like in wine and gold. That makes it a perfect time to answer five questions about the trade and what it means for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season.
What are your first impressions of Harden as a Cavalier?
Mike Anguilano: Adding one of the best pick-and-roll passers ever will immediately make Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley (less so, but still) even more valuable on offense. Harden’s clutch shot-making was on full display against the Sacramento Kings, but the fact that he was so open because defenses had to scramble after Donovan Mitchell is even more encouraging. That is a true pick-your-poison backcourt pairing in a way that Darius Garland was not quite at the level of.
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Corey Walsh: Harden on the Cavaliers is something I do not think I will ever be able to comprehend. Against the Kings, it felt like one could see Harden’s mindset and comfort level increase as the game went along. In the first quarter, he avoided stepping on toes, opting to facilitate. By the end of the game, he was comfortable shooting from his spots. It’ll be fascinating to see the role evolve in the final games of the regular season.
Jackson Flickinger: The gravity that Harden has as an offensive player is more than I anticipated. It’s incredible to see someone command so much attention from a defense while also sharing the floor with Mitchell. This is the most offensively skilled backcourt in franchise history.
What are you most excited about with the Harden addition?
MA: It was a shock to see the Cavs have to throw in a pick for the Clippers to take Garland, but that is how it sometimes goes with injured, expensive players. The addition of Harden immediately puts the Cavs into even more of a win-now territory, but this doesn’t feel as much of a risk compared to some other “all-in” type moves. Harden and Mitchell is a lethal backcourt pairing in a way that Garland was not able to fully level up to. Or at least not consistently enough.
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CW: His ability to get the bigs,…
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Publish date : 2026-02-09 19:30:00
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