Had the LA Clippers not made a splash for Darius Garland at the trade deadline, they would still have a 36-year-old James Harden entering the offseason early. That sounds like a disaster, as he could easily get up and leave with a player-option in his contract, forcing the Clippers’ front office into a corner on Kawhi Leonard’s future.
But, fortunately, the Clippers used their brains and snagged Garland when the opportunity presented itself. This singular move saved the season, as he’s young and leaves room for optimism, despite the loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Play-In Tournament.
Zach Lowe highlighted the Clippers’ smarts on ‘The Zach Lowe Show,’ and it’s a great point. There’s just no telling how the front office would feel at the moment if Harden didn’t put his foot down regarding a demand for an extensive, long-term deal, in which Lawrence Frank disagreed.
The Cavaliers did the Clippers an unforgettable favor
Through every game, win or loss, good or bad, fans of the LA Clippers always wondered in the back of their minds what the front office would do in the upcoming offseason. There was essentially no foundation, and an aging James Harden was not thought to have any appeal if placed on the trade block.
However, the Cleveland Cavaliers put on a mask and superhero outfit, ready to save the day. They took James Harden in a heartbeat, under the impression that he is the superstar Donovan Mitchell needs next to him, and gave up Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
It sounded too good to be true in the moment when all the rumors began to break, and to this day, it’s shocking the Cavaliers actually went through with it.
Now, with Garland, considering his prime is ahead of him, the fact that the Clippers’ season, and more notably their turnaround, ended in an unsuccessful manner does not hurt anywhere near as badly.
There is a real sense of direction (finally, after all these years), Garland, around whom they can seriously build.
If the front office chooses to go all in on a new era, they can move Kawhi Leonard for a haul. But if they prefer to give Garland a full season with the two-time champion with hopes of a deep playoff run, they can keep pieces where they currently stand.
The principle is that there are options that were not expected to be there, and it’s thanks to Cleveland for doing something so unforgettable.
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