Cavs’ Gamble on Harden Looks Smarter by the Day - Especially with Garland’s Lingering Injury Concerns
CLEVELAND - When the Cavaliers pulled the trigger on the James Harden trade, eyebrows were raised across the league. Swapping out 26-year-old Darius Garland for a 36-year-old Harden felt like a win-now move with a heavy dose of risk. But as more details have emerged - particularly around Garland’s health - the Cavs’ urgency is starting to make a lot more sense.
Let’s start with the medical side of things. Garland hasn’t played since January 14, and while the initial reports pointed to a right toe sprain as the culprit, the real concern lies with his left foot - the same foot that required surgery for turf toe last summer. That injury, it turns out, is still lingering.
Clippers President Lawrence Frank, now overseeing Garland in L.A., made it clear: Garland’s right foot has healed, but the surgically repaired left toe remains an issue with no clear timetable for return. “We are not gonna skip any steps,” Frank said, emphasizing a long-term recovery plan. That’s not the kind of update that inspires confidence for a player whose game is built on speed, shiftiness, and quick bursts.
And that’s where the Cavs’ decision gains clarity. Garland is owed $39 million next season, $42 million the year after, and $44 million in 2027-28 - all fully guaranteed.
That’s a max contract tied to a player whose greatest asset is quickness, now compromised by a chronic toe issue. The Cavs likely saw the same medical reports the Clippers did and realized they couldn’t wait around hoping Garland would return to form.
Harden, for his part, comes with his own contractual baggage - but it’s lighter. He’s making $39 million next season, and while he has a $42 million figure for 2026-27, only $13 million of that is guaranteed. Financially, it gives Cleveland more flexibility down the line.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Even before the injury, Garland’s on-court impact had started to wane. The Cavs were just 13-13 in games he played this season, but 18-8 without him.
That’s not a small sample size - and it’s a trend that started last year. In 2023-24, Cleveland went 31-26 with Garland, but 17-8 when he was sidelined.
And the defensive numbers were even more telling. With Garland on the floor this season, the Cavs ranked 25th in defensive efficiency.
Without him? They climbed to No.
- Analytically, Garland was rated in the bottom 8% of NBA defenders - a tough pill to swallow for a 6-foot-1 guard who wasn’t compensating with elite offense.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson found himself in a difficult position. He knew the team performed better without Garland, but also couldn’t just bench a max-contract player without serious locker room and front office implications. The trade removed that dilemma entirely.
A Roster Recalibrated for Defense and Urgency
The Cavs didn’t stop with Harden. They also moved De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento, another player whose on-court numbers weren’t helping the cause.
According to StatMuse, Cleveland was minus-40 in point differential with Garland on the floor this season, minus-20 with Hunter. Only rookie Tyrese Proctor posted a worse mark (minus-46), and he’s barely seen the court.
In return, the Cavs added Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis - two guards known for their defensive edge. Add them to a rotation that already includes scrappy young defenders like Thomas Bryant, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Craig Porter Jr., and Jaylon Tyson, and you start to see the identity Atkinson is trying to build.
This team wants to be tougher. Grittier.
Harder to score on.
And Harden? He’s bought in - at least for now.
“It’s giving Donovan [Mitchell] a different energy,” Atkinson said before Wednesday’s game. “He knows we have a chance.”
That’s the key word: chance. This isn’t just about making the playoffs - the Cavs want to break through.
Donovan Mitchell has never made it past the second round in his eight-year career. Cleveland hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals without LeBron James since 1992.
They haven’t been to the NBA Finals without him - ever.
This group believes it can change that.
Motivation Meets Opportunity
For Harden, this is more than just another stop. According to Cavs President Koby Altman, the veteran guard is “highly, highly motivated.”
He knows the clock is ticking on his career and legacy. And in Cleveland, he sees a real shot at rewriting the narrative.
Yes, there’s a good chance Harden will push for a contract revision after the season. That’s part of the deal when you bring in a star with a history of forcing his way out. But right now, he’s playing the role the Cavs need him to play - steadying the offense, making plays, and letting the defense do the heavy lifting.
The Bottom Line
The Cavs didn’t just make a trade. They made a statement.
They saw the writing on the wall with Garland - a dynamic but undersized guard whose game was slipping and whose health was uncertain. They opted for a veteran with playoff scars, a more flexible contract, and a chip on his shoulder.
It’s a risk, no doubt. But it’s a calculated one. And if the early returns are any indication, it’s a risk that might just pay off.
Because with Garland’s toe issues casting a long shadow, the Cavs knew they couldn’t wait. Not with Donovan Mitchell in his prime.
Not with the East wide open. Not with a chance - finally - to build something bigger than just another playoff appearance.
They’re swinging for the fences. And right now, it looks like they just might connect.