Seven months after the blockbuster deal that sent James Harden to Cleveland and Darius Garland to the Clippers, the early read still leans one way: the Cavs look like the team that came out ahead.
That was not the obvious verdict when the trade went down. Cleveland landed an 11X All-Star in Harden, while Los Angeles got younger by bringing in Garland, a multi-time All-Star who fit the timeline better on paper. At the time, it felt like one of those rare moves both sides could talk themselves into.
Now that the dust has settled and training camps are around the corner, the contrast is clearer.
Garland’s case in L.A. has been shaped by health more than anything else. Injuries cut into his production in the 2025 postseason and kept him out for a good chunk of the early 2025-26 campaign, which meant the Clippers didn’t get the same burst, pace, and spark that had made him such a dangerous guard before.
Even so, the talent is obvious. He’s a player who has scored 50 in a game, buried clutch shots, and turned heads with his handles, his driving, and his shooting.
At 26, he’s still got plenty of runway, and the fit with the Clippers lines up better than Harden’s age would have.
There’s also reason to think Garland’s best stretch in L.A. could still be ahead. He even has an old Cleveland connection in Max Strus, now back on his side.
Cleveland’s side of the deal has looked more immediate. There were mixed reactions when the Cavs flipped a young but injured star for a much older one, especially one nearing the end of his career. But Harden wasted no time changing the conversation.
In his debut, he took over the fourth quarter against the Kings, and that set the tone for a regular season stretch that saw Cleveland win 19 of his 26 appearances. Travis Scott taking the mic during the postgame interview only added to one of the more memorable moments around the move.
The postseason brought a little more turbulence, mostly because Harden battled turnovers in his first playoff run with the Cavs. Still, he delivered when it mattered against the Pistons and showed he understood when it was time to make plays. He was also part of Cleveland’s first non-LeBron ECF appearance since 1992.
Harden was doing all of that while playing through a fractured thumb, far from fully healthy. With a healthier version of him now set to open the 2026-27 season, and on a cheaper three-year deal, Cleveland has a real weapon in a deeper roster. His playmaking and shot creation carry obvious value.
There’s a roster effect here too. Harden’s size gives Donovan Mitchell more help than Garland’s 6’1 frame did, and Cleveland no longer has to lean on an undersized backcourt.
So after weighing both sides, the early winner is Cleveland. Harden has fit the win-now Cavs better than Garland has fit the Clippers, and the veteran guard has already shown the kind of impact that Garland is still trying to build toward in L.A.
The two teams will meet in Cleveland on New Year’s Eve, and the night figures to come with plenty of video tributes for both Garland and Max Strus. It should also be a “prove it” day for Harden and Garland alike.
In Other News...
New Look Cavs Bring Real Rotation Drama Into Preseason
The Cavaliers preseason slate will arrive with a little extra spotlight attached, starting with a home meeting against the Magic on Oct. 11 that will air on ESPN and then a quick rematch in Orlando two days later on Peacock. Cleveland is also planning to open training camp in Spain from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, a setup that gives the team an unusual early rhythm before the exhibition games begin and the regular season opener lands on Oct. 22.
That schedule would matter anyway, but it takes on more weight with Peyton Watson set to make his debut and roster decisions still looming after recent transactions. A three-game preseason does not leave much room for coaches to experiment, which is why every minute in camp and every early exhibition matchup figures to carry real meaning as Cleveland sorts out its rotation heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Linked To A Championship Guard With Real Bargain Appeal
Bruce Brown is again drawing the kind of attention that follows a useful playoff piece, with the unrestricted free agent reportedly on the radar of the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. For Cleveland, the appeal is easy to see: he brings versatility, defensive reliability and the kind of veteran presence contenders often want in the back half of the rotation, especially if the price stays within reach.
What makes the situation even more intriguing is the idea that Brown could be had on a minimum deal, which would make him a tidy fit for several teams looking to shore up their guard depth without sacrificing flexibility. Nothing is settled yet, but for a club like the Cavaliers, monitoring a player with championship experience and a reputation for fitting just about anywhere is the sort of offseason detail worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Preseason Could Reveal Which New Pieces Are Ready To Matter
The NBA preseason TV schedule has arrived, and it will give Cavaliers fans an early look at a roster still sorting out who can be counted on once the games start to matter. Cleveland is set for two games on ESPN networks, a small but useful window to see how the new faces fit alongside the core and whether any of them can carve out real roles before the regular season begins.
Among the players worth tracking are Meleek Thomas, Ernest Udeh Jr., Khalifa Diop and Peyton Watson, a group that could shape the depth chart if one or more of them make a strong impression. Watson, who is entering the first season of a four-year contract, stands out as a player the Cavaliers may need to lean on, making these preseason reps more than just tune-up minutes for a team trying to find out which additions are ready to matter. [Read more 🡒]