As of right now, the winner of the LA Clippers’ trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which occurred at the trade deadline, is still being decided. James Harden is thriving, but at the same time, Darius Garland is playing at a ridiculously high level, and both teams are succeeding. Though this might have been the best possible outcome, the determining factor favors the Clippers, as Garland is only 26; that alone gives them the upper hand by a wide margin.
By the time Harden is in his 40s and retired, Garland will still be in his prime, dominating the NBA. This was the exact logic that Lawrence Frank had in mind when negotiating the trade, and it’s safe to say he did an excellent job.
That said, what’s classified as a win-win for now won’t be, at some point in the near future.
The Cavaliers prioritized the short-term, and that’s why they lost
Everyone knew James Harden would fit like a glove next to Donovan Mitchell. As a result, it’s not a surprise the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 15-5 with him, while he’s been averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds, shooting 47.7% from the field and 44.7% from beyond the arc.
The best part for the Cavaliers is that, with a seasoned former MVP like Harden running the floor, their odds of going all the way and bringing a championship back to Cleveland increased significantly.
Even next season, and possibly thereafter, they will remain at the top of the Eastern Conference. That was their motive, and more likely than not, it will be achieved because Harden is their point guard.
But, questions about the long term remain: what about in five seasons? How will the trade that sent Harden to the Cavaliers look like then?
Well, every sign points towards the LA Clippers’ direction. Given that Garland, who is averaging 21.8 points and 6.7 assists in his new threads, is playing the best basketball of his career while being ten years younger than Harden, one can only predict the numbers he will put up at his peak.
The future is extremely bright for the Clippers’ backcourt, whereas the Cavaliers cannot relate; theirs will simply flourish for the time being.
The cherry on top? The Cavaliers paid the Clippers a second-round pick as well to take on Garland. That’s blasphemous and only adds to the impression that Lawrence Frank pulled off a win at the deadline regarding Harden.