James Harden is averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists on 50% shooting since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. Solid numbers, but that’s not the real takeaway. With Harden, the Cavaliers started 5-0, before suffering their first loss against the Thunder on Sunday.
For a team that hasn’t made an Eastern Conference Finals in the Donovan Mitchell era, Harden’s arrival feels necessary. Though Harden is out of his prime already, his experience and all-around game still give Cleveland something it has lacked.
Now, expectations come with the territory Harden and the Cavaliers are in right now. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley believes they can come out of the conference as a Finals team.
“I would trade my MVP for one healthy postseason run because I think that if I’m healthy, I’m dominant enough that I would carry us to win a championship.”
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming out of the eastern conference,” – Charles Barkley 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/xF7XkMXzuG
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 21, 2026
