The Cavaliers made a shocking trade at the deadline when they shipped out young star Darius Garland and a second-round pick for James Harden. Cleveland's willingness to give up a much younger star (Garland is 26 years of age compared to Harden's 36) shows that they can feel their championship window closing. The Pistons' dominance this season has forced the Cavs to mortgage their future for a chance this year.
The Cavs needed more firepower to compete with the Pistons
Before the season, the Cavaliers were expected to be atop the East. They finished with the first seed last season before losing in the second round of the playoffs. After key losses to other top rivals, the Cavs were expected to dominate their conference en route to a great record.
In reality, the Pistons rose to that position while the Cavs struggled to find a groove. Garland's inconsistency and injury woes contributed to Cleveland's disappointment and they ultimately chose to move on. But trading for a player who is so much older could be a risky gamble by their front office.
Not only is Harden in his 17th season, but he also has a history of leaving teams after a couple seasons. He also has a history of coming up short in the playoffs, especially in the most pivotal moments of a series. Even with him, the Cavs might not be able to defeat the Pistons or other top teams in the East.
The Pistons certainly have their own weaknesses, but they've been able to cover them adequately all season long. After an embarrassing blowout loss to the Cavaliers early in the season, the Pistons have turned it around and haven't looked back since. Their defensive intensity and the offensive brilliance of Cade Cunningham has carried them to a dominant record against all opponents.
Harden is a fearsome addition to a backcourt that already features All-NBA performer Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers are undefeated with Harden so far, sitting at 3-0 with wins over Washington, Denver and Sacramento. Harden himself has looked great and elevated the team offense with his playmaking.
But the playoffs will always be the biggest test of such a huge trade. And that's where Harden has historically struggled to close out series. His defensive effort has been a question mark throughout his career. It's looked good for him on that end so far in Cleveland, but will it hold up through a long grueling playoff series?
If the Cavaliers fail to make a deep playoff run this season, they might be forced to blow up their current roster. Donovan Mitchell is nearing 30 years of age himself, and has never advanced beyond the second round in his career. He might be looking for greener pastures if the Cavs disappoint once again.