The Cleveland Cavaliers are 2-0 in the James Harden era.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are 2-0 in the James Harden era and one of the best players in NBA history is loving the fit thus far.
NBA legend Kevin Garnett opened up about Harden on the Cavaliers and believes the 2018 MVP is going to take Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen to the next level.
“He’s gonna help them,” Garnett said of Harden. “You know why? [Ivica] Zubac was a lob threat. … [Clint] Capela, he made him a lob threat, got him a big contract, you understand? If Mobley and Jarrett Allen can tap into what he was doing with Zubac, it’s over. He can reinvent Mobley right now, bro. He can get Mobley and Allen six to eight points a game just off the lob threat and what he was doing for the Clippers.”
The Cavaliers have defeated the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets with Harden, who is averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in his first two games with Cleveland while shooting 48.3% from the field, 46.7% from beyond the arc and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland put up 132 points against the Kings and 119 points against the Nuggets. More importantly, Harden and Donovan Mitchell look good together.
Since Harden and Mitchell are ball-dominant players, many people around the NBA thought the two All-Star guards would have trouble playing with each other. Yes, it's only two games, but Harden and Mitchell haven't stepped on each other's toes yet.
Mitchell is averaging 33.5 points and 7.0 assists in two games with Harden. He's shooting 51.1% from the field as well.
Harden is still searching to win his first NBA championship, while Mitchell, Allen and Mobley have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
Harden made the NBA Finals back in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
Harden is making $39.4 million this season, with $13.3 million of his $42.3 million salary for next season guaranteed. Harden had sought more security in negotiations with the Clippers last offseason, but Los Angeles declined to offer him a longer-term deal because of his age and an organizational prioritization of long-term flexibility.
The Cavaliers are expected to sign Harden to a new contract this offseason.
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