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Former NBA MVP James Harden will play his first game for his new team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
James Harden to make Cavaliers debut vs Sacramento Kings
Cleveland signed Harden from the LA Clippers at the trade deadline in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. The Cavaliers will be on the fourth match of a five-game Western Conference road trip on Saturday. Haden was placed as "questionable" for the game as the teams finalize the trade.
The 11-time NBA All-Star, is set to be included in Cleveland's starting backcourt along with seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell.
The Cavaliers still have important players on the sidelines: Evan Mobley (left calf strain) and Max Strus (left foot surgery). Forward Dean Wade is also placed as "doubtful" for Saturday's game because of a left ankle sprain.
Cleveland has been one of the league's attractive teams lately, winning nine of the last 11 games. The Cavaliers are now No.4 in the Eastern Conference with a 31-21 record.
Donovan Mitchell expresses excitement about adding James Harden
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the season with big expectations in a wide-open Eastern Conference. They were No.1 in the East last season, winning 64 games. However, they faced elimination by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. They are having an average season so far, hovering in the middle of the standings.
Cleveland made a few moves at the deadline to improve its squad, which is among the league's most expensive. In an interview with The Athletic's Tony Jones on Wednesday, Cavaliers player Donovan Mitchell expressed his excitement about adding eight-time All-NBA selection James Harden.
"We both know that it's going to be an adjustment," Mitchell told The Athletic on Wednesday. "But, we're excited. I'm excited about what he can do for me as a player, and I'm excited about what he can do for our team as a whole. We want the same thing. We both want a championship."
Many experts and fans expect that James Harden improves Cleveland's chances in the conference. In addition, Harden gives the Cavaliers' offense, which ranked first in the league last season, an elite playmaker and an experienced shot creator.
The 36-year-old star is averaging 25.4 points per game this season, which is his highest since he won the scoring title in 2019-20 (34.3ppg).
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