As the dust settles from the NBA Trade Deadline, teams are gearing up for the playoffs, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have certainly made waves with their recent moves. Among the most talked-about trades was their decision to send franchise cornerstone Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden. This bold move has significantly boosted their backcourt.
Even LeBron James, the former Cavalier now with the Los Angeles Lakers, has weighed in, praising the acquisition of the 11-time All-Star. "It felt like they needed another playmaker," LeBron shared on the Mind The Game podcast. "Adding James [Harden], a perennial All-Star, gives Donovan Mitchell another ballhandler who can make shots when it counts."
Harden's stats back up LeBron's confidence. He's averaging 19.3 points and 8.7 assists per game, shooting 45.5% from the field and an impressive 42.1% from three-point range. This kind of production is exactly what Cleveland needs as they eye a deep playoff run.
But the Cavaliers didn't stop there. Before landing Harden, they also added Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from the Sacramento Kings.
LeBron, familiar with both players from his time in Los Angeles, had high praise for these additions. "Schroder, a former teammate, competes every night, and Keon Ellis is a shot-maker," LeBron noted.
"In the East, where it's tough and physical, you need players like that."
With these strategic moves, Cleveland is poised for a strong postseason. They currently sit in the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, holding a two-game lead over the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors and trailing the third-seeded New York Knicks by just one game. The Cavaliers are clearly positioning themselves as serious contenders as the playoffs approach.