Cleveland Cavaliers Star Reportedly Requested The Organization To Land James Harden

The Cleveland Cavaliers see themselves as top contenders in the Eastern Conference, and while they've done so for a number of years, they've struggled to make it deep in the NBA Playoffs. This season, it became clear that they needed some type of change, and on Tuesday, that change came in the form of a blockbuster deal, with the team acquiring James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a draft pick.

While Harden isn't a known playoff performer, the belief is that he's a major upgrade over Garland, and if he can find his chemistry with this team, there's a major chance of success. Now, we officially know why the team targeted Harden, as it came at the request of Donovan Mitchell, who believes Harden's play as a pass-first point guard will suit this team perfectly.

“Two league sources also said Mitchell specifically wanted Harden, who is 6-foot-5, durable and comfortable as a pass-first point guard.”

On paper, the fit is a good one for Cleveland, and if Harden can stay healthy, this should benefit Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and the entire starting lineup, who now becomes one of the best in the entire NBA.

Ultimately, only time will tell whether or not this works, but with the confidence that Mitchell had in demanding this move, clearly the locker room believe in it, and think this could make them a genuine threat in the East once more.