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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ season is over. A sweep in the Eastern Conference finals at the hands of the New York Knicks — capped off by a 37-point loss on their home floor, no less — is almost sure to bring a new level of scrutiny to a core that, while talented, has faltered time and time again in the playoffs.
One of the biggest questions facing the Cavs this summer will be James Harden and his impending $42.3 milion player option. But Harden, Cleveland’s prized midseason acquisition, has already publicly said he’s on board with coming back.
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“Yes, 100%, definitely to both,” Harden told reporters after Game 4 when asked if he wants and expects to be in Cleveland next season. “Definitely want to be here. It’s tough ending it not how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”
A slow start to this season led to a blockbuster trade for James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers at the deadline in February in exchange for point guard Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. Harden, an 11-time All-Star, averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 regular season games with the Cavaliers but struggled down the stretch in the playoffs, something that has reared its head before in Harden’s career.
In the four games against the Knicks this series, Harden failed to reach 20 points once. His statline in the decisive Game 4 was as flat as the energy the Cavs as a whole played with: 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and five turnovers.
The blame didn’t solely lie on Harden; the Cavaliers in general were outplayed and outclassed across the board in such a way that’s sure to invite questions about this team’s roster going forward.
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But Harden made it a point to answer one of those questions early. So did Donovan Mitchell.
“I love it here,” Mitchell said after the game. “I don’t know how else to say it. I said it before I signed the other extension: I love it here. I have no doubt this group can get there. But reports are going to be reports and people are going to be people. I’ll say the same thing: we have unfinished business.”
Mitchell’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/think-found-something-james-harden-050023418.html
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Publish date : 2026-05-26 05:00:00
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