The Cleveland Cavaliers have already made their choice: push for a title now, and worry about the wreckage later. The problem is that the wreckage is coming fast, and it has James Harden’s name on it.
Harden is 37, and after signing a new $97 million contract, he’s set to make $34 million when he is 39. That kind of money hanging around the books is going to make life harder for Cleveland as it tries to stay competitive. Once the deal is in place, the cleanest escape route is the same one teams have used with Harden before: find the one franchise willing to take him on before the contract turns toxic.
That’s why Dennis Schroder’s situation matters. Around the league, his deal was widely seen as underwater - too rich this season and even worse in the years ahead.
He signed a three-year contract with the Sacramento Kings, and it quickly became a headache. When Cleveland landed him, it looked like a way to get out from under De'Andre Hunter’s even more expensive long-term money.
But the Cavaliers still had to deal with Schroder himself. If they wanted to move him and create room to chase a player like Peyton Watson, the expectation was that they’d have to attach draft assets just to get someone to take the contract.
Instead, Koby Altman found a cleaner exit. Cleveland worked out a trade with the Charlotte Hornets that sent Schroder to North Carolina for only cash, with no draft picks included.
That was possible because Charlotte had reasons to believe in the player. Schroder had prior ties to the front office from his time in Brooklyn and from the start of his career in Atlanta.
The Hornets had also already invested in multiple young players from Germany, and Schroder’s standing as a German basketball legend fit that lane neatly. They needed a backup point guard and a veteran voice, and they saw him as a positive addition.
The Cavaliers now need the same kind of answer for Harden. His career has long been built around these kinds of moves, with teams eventually finding another club willing to trade real value for him. Cleveland was that team for the Clippers when they were moving veteran pieces this past year.
What comes next is the question. Harden still has years left on the deal, which might make some team less worried about the usual contract drama between him and his camp. A club could decide it wants a steady point guard to settle things down and steer the offense.
The market may not be crowded. There are plenty of young guards around the league, so the need isn’t obvious everywhere.
Maybe it ends up being one of the league’s routinely questionable front offices. If Jeremiah Fears flames out in New Orleans, or Darius Acuff in Sacramento, one of those teams could look at Harden as a short-term swing.
Or it could be a veteran team looking for a different shape in the backcourt. The Orlando Magic might want to change course and put more chips in.
The Dallas Mavericks could swap Kyrie for Harden if the situation called for it. The Toronto Raptors might decide to move on from Immanuel Quickley, or the Portland Trail Blazers from Ja Morant.
The Phoenix Suns could also be persuaded.
Cleveland would be wise to move early this season if the chance is there. But whether it happens now or 18 months from now, Altman needs to be working the phones. If a team shows up willing to take Harden, the Cavaliers should not hesitate.
In Other News...
Cavs Fans Just Got A New Reason To Revisit The Garland Trade
Adam Silvers penalties on the Clippers for salary cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard have changed the mood around a franchise that suddenly has a lot less room to maneuver. Losing five first-round picks through the 2034 season is the kind of punishment that reshapes a teams timeline, and it immediately puts pressure on every move Los Angeles makes from here. For Cleveland fans, it also brings back a familiar name in a very different light.
Darius Garland, who was recently acquired by the Clippers, now sits in the middle of a roster picture that could shift quickly if the team decides to lean into a rebuild. Players with his profile can become valuable trade chips when a front office is forced to think long term, and that makes his place in Los Angeles worth watching closely. For the Cavaliers, it is another reminder that the ripple effects of the Garland trade may not be finished yet. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Fans Just Learned The Catch In Next Seasons TV Plan
Cavaliers fans finally have some clarity on where theyll be able to watch the team next season, with Cleveland announcing that its games will stream on DAZN beginning in 2026-27. The setup sounds straightforward enough at first glance, especially for a fan base that has spent years tracking where the next game might land, but the full picture comes with a few layers that matter once the schedule starts unfolding.
Out of the 82 regular-season games, 17 nationally televised matchups will not be part of the DAZN package, and 15 more will be available free through an over-the-air partner. That leaves at least 50 games exclusive to DAZN, which puts the subscription side of the plan front and center for anyone trying to follow the team regularly, even as DAZN says it will also offer several pricing tiers and carry some regional sports programming at no charge. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs First Rounder Suddenly Has A New Spotlight
Jonathan Kumingas path has taken another turn, and with it the market around the players the Lakers are still weighing. After not signing with Los Angeles, Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with Minnesota that includes a player option, leaving the Lakers to keep scanning for a different way to round out their roster.
One name now sitting in that conversation is Cam Whitmore, the former first-round pick who was recently waived by the Cavaliers. Whitmore already has NBA experience, and with the Lakers still exploring options, he could be in play for a two-way contract if their search points in that direction. [Read more 🡒]