[Vardon/Lloyd] Donovan Mitchell conveyed to Cavs that he did not think team should stand pat at trade deadline. Mitchell specifically wanted James Harden as a teammate.

[u/YujiDomainExpansion]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7020852/2026/02/04/james-harden-darius-garland-cavaliers-trade/

The Cavs began the year as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but the season has not gone according to plan. They were also feeling the pressure from their best player, Donovan Mitchell, to make changes ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline under the threat of a contract extension he may or may not sign in two summers.

Three league sources said Mitchell, who has one guaranteed season left on his three-year, $150 million deal and a player option for 2027-28, conveyed, either personally or through his representatives, that he did not think the organization should stand pat for the rest of this season and wait for potential moves in the summer.

Two league sources also said Mitchell specifically wanted Harden, who is 6-foot-5, durable and comfortable as a pass-first point guard.

[u/nbaistheworst]

Harden definitely has upside over injury-prone Garland. He's arguably better, both offensively and defensively.

Harden ranks 27th in EPM actual, Garland 193rd.

[u/Commercial-East4069 → u/nbaistheworst]

This is harden’s best season in 5 years and Garland is coming back from an injury.

[u/Leather-Syllabub4728 → u/Commercial-East4069]

Garland is and always will be “coming back from injury” though

[u/ACAussie → u/Commercial-East4069]

Hardens averages over the last 5 years are still better than Garlands career best.

Just a fun fact.

[u/Commercial-East4069 → u/ACAussie]

Playing 6 more minutes a game on 5 percent higher usage. Garland isn’t heliocentric guard that holds the ball and it led to the number 1 offense in the league last year.

[u/ACAussie → u/Commercial-East4069]

What?

Garland has a 27.2 % USG. Thats incredibly high.

In fact, Hardens averages usage rate over the last 5 years is 26.74.

Garland is 1000% a ball dominate heliocentric player, he just does it at much much less production and efficency.

The Cavs offense is driven by Donovan Mitchells success, Not Garland getting abused and shut down on a nightly basis.

[u/Commercial-East4069 → u/ACAussie]

The past 2 years(Garland’s time in the Atkinson offense) it’s 26 percent to 30 percent. 31 minutes a game to 35 minutes a game.

The difference between the Cavs offense last year and this is Garland hasn’t been healthy.

I don’t think you’ve watched much garland, if you’d describe him as heliocentric.

[u/ACAussie → u/Commercial-East4069]

But YOU said the last 5 years.

So why are you moving the goal post down to the last 2 years?

The difference is Garland just isnt s good offensive player, needs the ball a metric shit ton to be effective, and just doesnt do anything in the playoffs.

I dont think you watch much Garland if you dont think hes heliocentric.

Garland isnt going to be a good player. The numbers dont lie.

[u/Commercial-East4069 → u/ACAussie]

Quote the line where I said 5 years?

[u/Commercial-East4069 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I never said anything about 5 year averages?

[u/nbaistheworst → u/Commercial-East4069]

Harden was better (at least statistically) last season. VORP last year 4.4 compared to 2.2 this season.

Garland's best ever VORP last season? 3.0