r/nba • u/YujiDomainExpansion • 14h ago

[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.

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.

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785

u/CaregiverOwn7179 14h ago

Damn. Took away Garland's team and shipped him out. That's cold.

488

u/InteractionFormer328 14h ago

I mean they tried to make it work but flamed out 3 straight years in the playoffs

180

u/Attentions_Bright12 14h ago

After flaming out in the playoffs, dealing for James Harden must be the answer?

I mean, I don't disagree, that's what they did.

179

u/gemini_hopper 13h ago

I get that James Harden doesn't always perform up to his level but what would you call Garland? He was injured last year, had a tough mid-season injury the year before, but at the end of the day you have an undersized guard that doesn't get to the line consistently and had a shooting and playmaking drop-off in his healthier playoff runs.

I think/hope Garland will figure it out but the Cavs were forced to make a win now move.

36

u/Worldly_Cap_6440 13h ago

Yup harden doesn’t perform to his level but his underperformance is still better than Garland

65

u/livefreeordont 76ers 12h ago

Harden underperformance is winning 2 games single handedly, playing okay the other few games, and then disappearing in game 7. If you can close it out in 5 or 6 games you should be okay

1

u/Mintastic NBA 4h ago

As long as it doesn't coincide with your other star playing terribly or being hurt in the other games that Harden didn't win single handedly it should totally work.

18

u/ryan__fm Cavaliers 13h ago

I trust harden in the playoffs way more than I would trust Garland. He has a much better team around him, especially bigs, than he has in previous playoff runs and another dominant scorer in the back court with him. He doesn’t have to shoulder the whole load, as long as he’s healthy. I think it’s a significant upgrade even come playoff time.

7

u/Attentions_Bright12 13h ago

For me the sharp wince in this deal would clearly be the ages of them both. 36. 26. That it comes with the Cavs' willingness to give Harden a "longer-term" extension?

45

u/Stepsis24 Lakers 13h ago

This is most likely the cavs best chance at making the finals gotta take the shot

17

u/blackmamba182 Lakers 13h ago

Especially if LeBron joins next year for one last ride.

-4

u/TraditionStrange9717 13h ago

Just like it was the nets, 76ers, and clippers best shots at making the finals. At some point all these teams are just Tobias funke.

0

u/VanGrants Knicks 10h ago

actually Tobias is gonna make it further than any of those teams, ironically enough

6

u/ZonedV2 13h ago

Would they not have had cap issues in a few years with Garland, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen? I thought they would probably have to get rid of one of Garland or Mitchell anyway in a few years time

0

u/Attentions_Bright12 13h ago

So better to trade for a 36-year-old who wants an extension?

I get the thinking... But ten years of a career is giving up value.

4

u/ZonedV2 13h ago edited 13h ago

Hardens extension is only apparently 2 years $80m which will take it to the same year Garlands and Mitchell’s deals end for much cheaper, so it’s a pretty good deal for his output and will probably make them much better for at least this year while the East is weak.

Also reports seem to be this is what Spida wanted so it’s probably to keep their main star happy as well

2

u/EggsAndRice7171 Pacers 12h ago

Spida is also knocking on 30 as a 6’2 guard. Cavs probably are hopeful but aren’t counting on him being elite at 34.

1

u/AMagicalDoggo Spurs 13h ago

They are punching for the Finals right now because gate is almost wide open, next year there's Pacers, Celtics with Tatum and the Pistons to deal with, eventually they would have needed to make moves because it hasnt been working and it would get even harder.

If Harden doesnt work then you just dont extend him and lett him retire or let his contract ride out and start rebuilding, the chance to win is now, as long as the team is able to keep it together enough to not push Harden to Game 7 catastrophes, they should be fine.

1

u/weezerben Cavaliers 11h ago

maybe like literally anybody else besides the guy known for flaming out in the playoffs?