LeBron James has made his offseason decision, and now the Cavaliers have to clean up the rest of the mess - starting with James Harden.
Harden’s situation has shifted almost as fast as the rest of Cleveland’s summer plans. What began as a possible max extension when he was acquired at the deadline has already been whittled down to a much smaller reworked deal after his rough playoff showing. Now, with LeBron no longer part of the equation, there’s even talk that Harden could be signed and traded because LeBron didn’t want to play with him.
That uncertainty matters. The longer Harden goes unsigned, the more it suggests Cleveland and Harden are not close to a new agreement. The most commonly reported extension has been a two-year, $60 million deal with at least $20 million guaranteed per season, but that kind of money would put the Cavaliers over the first apron unless they moved a contract to create cap room.
And that’s where the problem starts. Cleveland was already boxed in by the second apron last trade deadline, and that financial squeeze helped lead to the Harden deal in the first place. Going back over the first apron now, just to keep a deadline pickup who underwhelmed in the playoffs, doesn’t look like a realistic path.
So the Cavaliers are left with three basic choices: overpay Harden and then trade for cap relief to stay under the first apron; let him leave and use the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception plus the bi-annual exception on two free agents; or try to split the difference and get Harden to accept less on a two-year deal, or stretch the money over three seasons.
The blunt read is that Harden, at this stage of his career, is not worth $30 million to a contender in a tougher Eastern Conference. Without LeBron there to push him toward a discount, Harden is likely testing the market.
If another team is willing to give him that reported two-year deal and Cleveland won’t match it, the expectation is Harden walks. For Cavaliers fans, the real question is whether anyone else will actually pay that price.
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This Proposed Cavs Move Would Ignite The Playoff Edge Debate
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The catch is that the scenario is still very much a proposal, not a negotiation. Any deal would require Cleveland to piece together the money, likely by moving Dennis Schroder and one of Max Strus or Sam Merrill, and there has been no indication Phoenix is shopping the player or talking trade with the Cavs. For now, it remains the sort of move that says as much about Clevelands postseason priorities as it does about the market itself. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Be Eyeing A Wing Move Fans Will Debate Fast
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For Cleveland, the appeal is easy to understand: a veteran wing with high-level experience and a fresh rsum from one of the top leagues in the world. No move has been finalized, but the Cavs are at least exploring the possibility, which gives this one a little extra intrigue as the roster starts to take shape for camp. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Put Their Entire Offseason Pressure On One Young Star
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Mobleys importance now goes beyond development and award-season shine. With the roster largely unchanged and no major external upgrade arriving to soften the pressure, the Cavaliers are leaning on him to be more than a supporting piece in the seasons ahead. He is the player most directly tied to whether this group can turn high expectations into something sturdier, and the next step from him may end up defining how the front office is judged. [Read more 🡒]