James Harden lauds the Cavaliers’ depth being a significant part of why they can succeed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Darius Garland was the starting point guard of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they were already a strong team. Unfortunately, his injuries and inconsistency became too much for the Cavaliers to deal with.

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The Cavs cut their losses early by trading Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden. The 2018 MVP is ready to spearhead the Cavs’ offense alongside Donovan Mitchell, but he also respects the abundance of talent he has around him.

Harden appreciates the Cavaliers’ impressive depth

The Cavaliers were already the best team in the Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 season. They had a record of 64-18, which was three games ahead of the closest team. They crashed out in the semi-finals of the Playoffs, but everyone knew they had potential.

With Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and a lot of useful bench players, they had the foundation. After a slow start to the 2025-26 season amid an injury crisis, they traded for Harden, a potential game-changer for Cleveland.

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MORE: Jarrett Allen is excited about the Cavaliers’ performance in the second half of the season

Now that the Cavaliers are playing well with Harden in the lineup, everyone is excited. From the players to the fans, they are ready to compete at the highest level again.

They are now fourth in the East on the same record as the New York Knicks. Moving forward, the Cavs can continue being one of the best teams, possibly aiming for the second seed, armed with their superb roster.

“We have so many weapons that on nights it’s going to be certain guys. We just gotta be comfortable with that. Tonight was a team win. We’re going to need games like this. It gives us confidence in the playoffs, and we’re built to win,” Harden said after the Cavs’ sixth win in a row.

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With Harden and the Cavaliers roster being excited about their potential, it is hard to go against them. The Cavaliers are confident now, which could bode well for their chances in the postseason.

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