The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have made a second trade this season.
Cleveland traded Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden, the 11-time All-Star who will be in the Hall of Fame one day.
This trade seemingly came out of nowhere, causing many Cavaliers fans to wonder how franchise guard Donovan Mitchell feels about all of this.
NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, who broke the trade, reports that Mitchell and Harden have already spoken and are looking forward to playing together.
The Cavaliers' starting lineup is now Harden, Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That's a pretty lethal starting lineup.
Cleveland also has Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder coming off the bench now. The Sacramento Kings traded Ellis and Schroder to the Cavaliers for De'Andre Hunter.
Harden is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game this season while shooting 41.9% from the field, 34.7% from beyond the arc and 90.1% from the free-throw line. He's one of the best scorers and passers in the NBA despite being 36.
The 2018 MVP with the Houston Rockets, Harden is making $39.4 million this season. He has a player option worth $42.3 million for next season.
Mitchell is playing very well this season as well. He's averaging 28.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game and shooting 48.3% from the field, 38.2% from 3 and 84.2% from the foul line.
The Cavaliers are now under immense pressure to win the championship this season. The Wine and Gold haven't gotten past the second round of the playoffs since 2018. Mitchell, 29, has never reached the conference finals.
Harden made it to the 2012 NBA Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games. The Beard also guided the Rockets to the conference finals twice. Houston lost to the Golden State Warriors both times.
It will be fascinating to see how Harden and Mitchell mesh. Both players are ball-dominant players and there is only one ball on the court. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will have to get creative with his offensive sets.
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