The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big move last week, bringing in James Harden right before the NBA trade deadline. And fans, they’re watching close. The team even put out a “Cavaliers Reacts Survey” asking about the trade. The early returns from Harden? Pretty good, if you ask the scoreboard.
Harden’s Immediate Impact in Cleveland
James Harden, age 36, got traded to the Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers early February 2026. This was a week ago. Cleveland wanted to pair him with Donovan Mitchell. And it worked fast.
His Cavaliers debut came Saturday, February 7, 2026. Harden scored 23 points against the Kings, shooting 7-13 from the field. He added 8 assists. Cavs won 132-126. He and Mitchell put up 58 points and 12 assists combined. Just a couple days later, on Monday, February 9, he had another strong showing.
Against the Denver Nuggets, Harden scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished 7 assists. The Cavs won again, 119-117. He played 36 minutes. And he helped erase an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. It was his 13th double-double of the 2025-26 season. Harden’s looked like a veteran point guard sparking these Cavaliers rallies, fitting in with Mitchell, CBS Sports reported.
Clippers Shift Gears After Harden Departure
Harden’s move to Cleveland came after he reportedly requested a trade on February 3. His last game for the Clippers was January 30. The Clippers made this move even though they were on a mid-season surge, getting their record to 25-27 after starting 6-21. They were ninth in the West.
The Clippers received Darius Garland and two first-round picks from the Cavaliers for Harden. Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president, spoke about the trade. He said they could “win now and still get younger” by getting Garland, who’s ten years younger than Harden. ESPN mentioned Frank’s comments on the trade.
Frank also talked about another trade. The Clippers sent Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers. They got Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick. Frank called it a “Godfather-type offer” from Indiana. “We didn’t want to trade him,” Frank said, “Bleacher Report noted this, but if there’s an offer that’s just too good… enhances our future.”
Kawhi Leonard was apparently “hurt and disappointed” by the trades. But Frank said Leonard was “a great partner” and understood the “hard decisions” for sustainability. Frank stressed that a September 2025 NBA investigation into Leonard didn’t affect any trade decisions.
Fan Reactions and Future Outlook
The Cavaliers’ “Reacts Survey” headline shows the team wants to know what fans think of the Harden acquisition. It makes sense, given his instant impact. Harden’s debut and second game were strong. He’s central to the Cavaliers winning. And Cavs.com recapped his performance against the Nuggets.
No official Cavaliers quotes have come out yet about the trade. But the wins speak for themselves. This move seems to be giving the Cavaliers a real spark. For the Clippers, they’re looking to the future. They got younger and added draft capital. Both teams made big changes right before the deadline. We’ll see how it all plays out over the rest of the season.
