The Cleveland Cavaliers made a bit of a risky maneuver when they traded away Darius Garland, the original member of their core, to the Los Angeles Clippers to bring James Harden in. Harden was supposed to elevate this Cavs team, as his sure-handedness and availability were deemed to be the missing ingredients after Cleveland fell short in the second round in 2024 and 2025.
However, Harden’s presence wasn’t enough to power the Cavs over the hump. Cleveland may have advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in the post-LeBron James era, but they barely lasted over a week after the New York Knicks destroyed them in a four-game sweep — with Cleveland getting eliminated in the worst possible fashion, a 37-point defeat at home in Game 4, 130-93.
Now, the uncertainty for this Cavs team is reaching an all-time high. One of the things they’re going to have to address is Harden’s contract situation; Harden has a player option worth $42.3 million for next season, and he might end up declining that to pursue one last huge long-term contract. Whatever the case may be, Harden doesn’t want to go elsewhere.
“Yes, (I want to be here. I expect to be here). 100 percent, definitely both. It’s just not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something,” Harden said in his postgame presser, via the official NBA account on X (formerly Twitter).
The ball is in Harden’s court at the moment, as he can certainly stay on this Cavs team by picking up his player option. But at 36 years of age, this might be Harden’s last shot at earning himself a huge multi-year contract, and he has always been financially proactive.
It’s not like this Cavs team is so far away from the level that’s required to compete for a title. It sure looks worth it for the Cavs to keep Harden, regardless of whether they run it back or pull off another blockbuster trade to try and elevate the team
