The Cleveland Cavs recently shook things up at the NBA trade deadline by bringing in star point guard James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland. The move solidified the Cavs as being all-in on competing for an NBA championship this year, and forms one of the most lethal backcourts in the NBA with Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell.
Recently, ESPN sports media personality Stephen A. Smith revealed his list of the top five NBA title contenders this year, and the Cavs made the cut at number five.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers can make some noise within the Eastern Conference, if not the entire NBA. You can’t look at a roster like that and have them outside the top five with how prolific they can be, particularly on the offensive end of the floor,” said Smith, per First Take on X, formerly Twitter.
The Cavs stumbled out of the gates this year but have rebounded, already playing much better basketball even before bringing in Harden at the trade deadline.
Of course, the prospect of adding James Harden in the hopes of improving one’s chances of postseason success is certainly a questionable one, and Donovan Mitchell has had some playoff meltdowns in his own right dating back to his days with the Utah Jazz.
However, at least on paper, the Cavs have one of the most balanced rosters in the league, with Harden and Mitchell terrorizing opposing defenses out front, while Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley man the middle.
There are still questions about the Cavs’ lack of two-way wings on the roster, although they tried to remedy that by bringing in Keon Ellis from the Sacramento Kings prior to the deadline, sending out De’Andre Hunter in the process.
In any case, the Cavs are next set to take the floor on Thursday evening at home against the Brooklyn Nets.