James Harden is expected to open alongside Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting five. But there’s a real argument for a different approach: bringing Harden off the bench.
That idea isn’t foreign to Harden. Over his NBA career, he has come off the bench in 214 games and posted averages of 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in those outings. At 37, the veteran could be a strong fit in that role again, especially if Cleveland wants to get the most out of him without crowding the floor with too many ball-dominant players at once.
The Cavs are expected to keep mixing and matching lineups during the regular season. They did it often last year, though injuries played a major part in those changes. Head coach Kenny Atkinson is still unsure of his starting five entering the new campaign, so the door is clearly open for adjustments.
Used as a reserve, Harden could become the engine for the second unit. He’d have more freedom to control pace, create shots and pressure defenses once the starters begin to cycle out. It would also help Cleveland navigate some of the defensive tradeoffs that can come with stacking multiple high-usage creators together.
Even now, Harden remains capable of scoring 20 points or more on a given night, and his best years have come when he’s been the focal point of the offense. Starting next to Mitchell means sharing touches and adjusting his game around the Cavs’ lead guard. Running the bench unit would let Harden handle the ball, set the tone and attack second-unit defenses without pulling usage away from Mitchell.
That setup could also give Cleveland more balance and more scoring variety.
If Harden does move to the bench, Jaylon Tyson looks like the most natural replacement. He impressed last season and would welcome the chance to move into the starting group. Tyson brings size on the perimeter, versatility and enough secondary ball-handling to help the offense function.
His presence would also keep the Watson, Mobley and Allen frontcourt intact, preserving the rim protection Cleveland values while still adding more size on the wing to handle different matchups.
Sam Merrill is another option. If the Cavaliers want to replace Harden’s spacing as closely as possible, Merrill makes sense. He’s a strong movement shooter who thrives on catch-and-shoot chances, and that kind of floor spacing would help open driving lanes for Mitchell and give him cleaner chances to work in pick-and-roll action.
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James Harden Just Made Clevelands Peyton Watson Move Look Crucial
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Watson was introduced by the Cavaliers on Sept. 17 after coming off a career-best season, and the expectation now is that he will have a larger role in Cleveland than he did with the Nuggets. Hardens presence matters here, not just because of the star power, but because he helped recruit Watson in the first place, making the move feel like part of a bigger plan rather than a one-off transaction. [Read more 🡒]