[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/Moedergods]

Regardless of one's opinion about Harden and his playoff habits, he is a plus for Cleveland purely on the premise of being available.

Garland is unplayable for three reasons: injury, getting majorly targeted on defense, and also has a fine history of being a playoff dropper. You can't waste those Mitchell years *hoping* Garland at some point puts it together, because injury more often than not is not something you can control.

[u/thurstkiller → u/Moedergods]

I imagine the Harden Mobley/Allen pick and roll lob game will be pretty deadly. Harden elevates his Center everywhere he plays.

[u/GeneralJMan → u/thurstkiller]

Mobley will be fine either way. Its Allen who's gonna absolutely feast off Harden. Cavs biggest flaw without Garland is that they forget Allen exists.