With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, one of the more unexpected storylines is the Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly emerging as a serious contender to land James Harden. Yes, that James Harden - the former MVP, current Clippers playmaker, and one of the most polarizing guards in the league. While nothing is official yet and talks could still fall apart, the idea of Harden teaming up with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland has sparked plenty of debate - including from former All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins, never one to shy away from a candid take, shared his thoughts on Run It Back on FanDuel TV, and he didn’t hold back. His main concern?
Fit. Specifically, the potential overlap between Harden and Mitchell in the backcourt.
“On paper, it doesn’t make sense,” Cousins said. “If you don’t like the situation of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, bringing in James Harden is basically creating the same type of situation. It’s two ball-dominant guards.”
He’s not wrong. Harden and Mitchell are both high-usage players who thrive with the ball in their hands.
That dynamic has already been a challenge with Mitchell and Garland - both talented in their own right, but still working to find that perfect on-court chemistry. Swapping Garland for Harden might just be trading one version of the same problem for another.
Cousins also pointed out the defensive concerns. Neither Harden nor Mitchell is known for lockdown defense, and pairing them in the backcourt could leave Cleveland vulnerable on that end, especially come playoff time when every possession tightens up and mismatches get ruthlessly exploited.
“If I’m Donovan Mitchell, I’m not necessarily happy about the potential move for James Harden,” Cousins added.
Still, Cousins gave credit where it’s due - praising the Cavaliers’ willingness to be aggressive at the deadline. There’s no question Cleveland is looking to shake things up.
After finishing last season with the best record in the East, they’ve struggled to recapture that dominance. At 30-21, they currently sit fifth in the conference standings.
That’s solid, but not where they expected to be given the talent on the roster and the expectations coming into the year.
The Cavs aren’t the only team that’s reportedly been in talks with the Clippers about Harden, but so far, Cleveland and Darius Garland are the only names publicly tied to any potential framework.
Meanwhile, Harden’s performance in Los Angeles has been a major reason why the Clippers have surged back into the Western Conference mix. They’ve won 17 of their last 21 games, and Harden has looked more like the version of himself that dominated in Houston than the one who struggled to find rhythm in Brooklyn or Philadelphia. Through 44 games, he’s averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game - with shooting splits of 41.9% from the field, 34.7% from deep, and a stellar 90.1% from the free-throw line.
That kind of production is hard to ignore, especially for a Cavs team looking for a spark. But the question remains: is Harden the right kind of spark, or would he just add more fire to an already combustible backcourt situation?
There’s no simple answer, and with the deadline looming, Cleveland’s front office will have to weigh the upside of Harden’s offensive firepower against the potential risks in chemistry and defense. One thing’s for sure - the Cavs are swinging big. Now the question is whether they connect.