There was a clear reason the Cavs made bringing James Harden back such a priority. The turnovers in the playoffs were real, and the shot accuracy didn’t always hold up. But Harden remains one of the best floor generals the NBA has seen over the last decade, and that’s the part Cleveland wants most.
What he gives this team isn’t just points. It’s the ability to get everybody involved, keep teammates engaged, and make the right read at the right time. That’s the edge nobody else on the roster can quite replicate.
Harden’s passing has always been one of the loudest parts of his game, maybe even more eye-catching than the scoring. A player who has averaged double-digit assists in a single season before doesn’t need much introduction when it comes to creating for others. When the offense needs a jolt, the simplest answer is often to put the ball in #1’s hands and let him work.
That was the most encouraging part of Harden’s team debut against Sacramento. The fourth-quarter scoring burst got attention, but the more revealing stretch came earlier.
He wasn’t hunting shots through the first three quarters. Instead, he leaned into playmaking, picking his spots and finding teammates where they could do damage.
For a first game with a new team, that kind of command stood out.
Even the postgame scene fit the moment, with Travis Scott cutting into the presser to praise his good friend. The two go back to Harden’s Houston days, and the connection was obvious right away. Cleveland got the guard it had been missing - the one with the intuition to know exactly what a possession needs.
That feel shows up in Harden’s isolation game, too. He’s been so efficient in those situations that it has produced some huge numbers over the years, whether he’s finishing the play himself or creating for someone else. His lob game is already among the best in franchise history, and he was feeding Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen all night.
He also delivered a clutch three against Detroit in last year’s playoffs from an iso situation, another reminder that he simply has IT. It which cannot be taught. The fractured thumb he played through last postseason made things messy at times, but even then he still put together plenty of offensive highlights and well-timed dimes.
That’s why the team was so intent on keeping him. At 37, Harden still raises the ceiling.
The 19-7 record over the 26 regular season games with Harden last year says plenty about what he can do for this group. Add that to a larger sample size, with Peyton Watson also in the fold, and the Cavs look like a dangerous team.
And the formula is straightforward from here. Harden will keep firing passes, keep hitting those step-back threes, and keep drawing contact for and-ones. That’s the version Cleveland needs, and it’s the version he keeps delivering.
In Other News...
Cavs Just Made A Risky Bet On Peyton Watson
The Cavaliers have made a clear swing for upside by bringing in Peyton Watson and handing him a four-year deal, with the expectation that he steps right into the starting small forward spot. It is the kind of move that says Cleveland is not just filling a hole, but betting that Watsons length and two-way profile can grow into a bigger role on a roster trying to stay relevant now and later.
The price tag was steep enough to turn heads around the league, since Denver got an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder in return. For the Nuggets, that first-rounder is more of a future trade chip than a pick they plan to keep, another reminder that the real value in a deal like this can live years down the road, long after the immediate lineup change has already taken hold in Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs New Forward Is Hinting At A Bigger Role Than Expected
Peyton Watsons offseason has already offered a glimpse of the company he expects to keep in Cleveland. The Cavaliers new forward was seen working out with Kevin Durant and LeBron James, a sign that he has spent the summer around elite players while sharpening his own game. Watson is also putting a clear emphasis on strength training and skill development as he gets ready for the upcoming NBA season, with an eye on fitting into the Cavaliers lineup.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious: Watson arrives with experience from a championship team and a profile that suggests he can grow into more than a depth piece. The Cavs are looking at how his athleticism and developing skill set can complement the rest of the roster, and the fact that he is already training with the leagues biggest names only adds to the sense that his role could become larger than expected once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Still Have One Hurdle Before James Harden Can Return
James Harden agreed to return to the Cavaliers nearly three weeks ago, but the deal still has not been completed because of Clevelands salary cap situation. The front office has been juggling the roster and the books to create enough room, including waiving Cam Whitmore and signing Khalifa Diop, all while trying to preserve the flexibility needed to officially bring Harden back into the fold.
What remains is a matter of fitting the contract into the teams current structure, and Cleveland is still working through the last bit of maneuvering. Harden is expected to either accept a slightly reduced deal or wait for the Cavaliers to make another roster move, which leaves one final hurdle before the signing can become official. [Read more 🡒]