The James Harden trade keeps getting worse for the Cleveland Cavaliers
The James Harden trade keeps getting worse for the Cleveland Cavaliers initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
You’d be hard-pressed to seek out somebody, anybody, who would argue sincerely that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden is a greater participant in the present day than the Los Angeles Clippers‘ Darius Garland. Yet, ever since the trade that noticed the two males swap groups, some consider that is the case. They’ll advocate for Harden’s dimension ‘making a distinction’ defensively in the playoffs, however there isn’t any option to show that, and it makes for nothing greater than conjecture. What we do know is that Harden’s play was terrible in the playoffs, taking pictures simply 40.9% from the ground and an abysmal 29.9% from three.
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His shot was unhealthy, however his ineffectiveness main the offense was on show. He appeared like a shell of the creator he was once. In the common season, the Cavs averaged 119.9 factors per recreation, and dropped a surprising 107.9 factors per recreation throughout the postseason. Whatever implied affect Harden had over Garland is just nonexistent. It’s led to many followers lamenting his arrival in Cleveland, even when there are some who assume he is nonetheless an improve over Garland. Well, his less-than-stellar play is not the solely cause followers at the moment are upset with the Harden trade, however apparently his arrival price the Cleveland Cavaliers an opportunity to reunite with LeBron James.
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According to Brian Windhorst of ESPNthe choice for James to forgo an opportunity to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers got here down, partially, to a choice to play with level guard Tyrese Maxey. A participant James was apparently very excessive on. Yet, he was additionally open to enjoying with Garland, had the Cavs not traded for him.
In truth, Windhorst goes on to say that not having Garland nonetheless on the roster was an enormous cause why the Cavs misplaced out on James’ remaining years in the NBA. Now the Cavs are basically pressured to re-sign Harden, a participant who fell off in the playoffs, to keep away from the Cavs being even additional worse off come the begin of the 2026 season than they already are.
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At the time, the trade was closely criticized, and but, by some means, this trade should still get worse for the Cavs.
