In early February 2026, the Cavs made a blockbuster midseason move: they traded young guard Darius Garland (then 26) and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for 11-time All-Star James Harden (then 36). The deal was driven by Cleveland’s push for immediate contention after strong regular-season performance but playoff shortcomings in prior years.
Many of us Cavs fans loved the trade, though the move also raised some eyebrows at the time due to the age gap and the fact that Garland was part of the team’s young core. Critics questioned trading a younger, cheaper player for an older veteran with a player option looming after the season.
Since then, the Clippers were bounced from the play-in tourny as Garland acknowledged he was basically playing on only nine toes. Meanwhile, Harden and the Cavs are thriving.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a stong start in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, taking a commanding 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Other top seeds are faring as well.
In Game 1 (April 18, 2026), the Cavs won 126-113 behind Donovan Mitchell’s 32 points. James Harden contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists.In Game 2 (April 20, 2026), Cleveland pulled out a 115-105 victory. Mitchell scored 30 points (on efficient 13-23 shooting, including 4 made threes), added 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and closed strong with 9 points in the fourth quarter. Harden added 28 points on efficient 9-14 shooting (including 3 threes), plus 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a standout 5 steals. The duo combined for 58 points in Game 2, and across both games they’ve been instrumental in forcing turnovers and creating high-quality shots.
Together with Evan Mobley (who scored 25 in Game 2), the trio has delivered multiple 25+ point performances, a rare feat in Cavs playoff history. Mitchell and Harden have shown strong chemistry on and off the court, with Harden often acting as a playmaker who keeps the offense flowing while Mitchell attacks as the primary scorer. Harden has also brought defensive intensity (steals and disruption) that complements the Cavs’ overall scheme.
Analysts note that Harden appears to have unlocked a new level for Mitchell in the postseason. Mitchell has now scored 30+ points on 50%+ shooting in back-to-back playoff games for the first time in his Cleveland tenure, looking more mature and efficient with a veteran facilitator like Harden alongside him.
It also helps that the Cavs are generally healthy, which gets back to why they traded Garland for Harden. Garland is younger, but he’s had issues with his big toes, and the Cavs just couldn’t go into the playoffs again with a banged up small guard.
Enter James Harden, one of the all-time great NBA players. He’s 36 but he’s still playing at a high level. Frankly he’s also one of the best passers I’ve ever seen. And he’s embraced his role next to Mitchell, which has allowed both of them to thrive.
We’ll see if this is enough for the Cavs to make a deep playoff run, but they’re showing that they are a team to be reckoned with.
