The Cleveland Cavaliers have shaken up their roster this season, days and hours before the trade deadline. Earlier this February, the Cavs got involved in a three-team trade, sending De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis.
Then, after a few days, the Cavaliers surprisingly secured a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, acquiring 11-time All-Star and former NBA MVP James Harden in exchange for Darius Garland. On paper, the Cavaliers now have a more solid lineup, which means they now have the tools to make a deep playoff run this year. With that in mind, a former NBA champion issued a challenge to Donovan Mitchell.
Kendrick Perkins Challenges Donovan Mitchell To Make it to the Eastern Conference Finals
In a recent broadcast of ESPN’s “NBA Today”, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins challenged Mitchell to make a meaningful playoff run this season. While the ultimate goal is to reach the NBA Finals, Perkins wants to see the Cavs at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Donovan Mitchell is on the clock,” Perkins said. “Like minimum you’d better get your behind to the conference finals. The Cavs have done more as far as making moves for Donovan Mitchell than they did for LeBron.”
“When you think about the moves that they made last year, getting De’Andre Hunter, now the moves that they’re making this year, it’s all surrounded by Donovan Mitchell, and to put him in a position to actually go out there and compete,” Perkins added.
Perk:
“Donovan Mitchell is on the clock. Like minimum you better get your behind to the conference finals. The Cavs has done more as far as making moves for Donovan Mitchell than they did for LeBron” pic.twitter.com/UMcpCUpUAe
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 5, 2026
While Harden may be 10 years older compared to Garland, there’s no denying that the 11-time All-Star is still one of the best players in the league today. Harden is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
With Harden’s ability to create shots for his teammates, Mitchell’s already dominant 28.8 points per game could rise further. To add the cherry on top, if Harden sees his teammates struggling to make their shots, he can always switch gears and take over to put matters into his own hands on offense.
Having said all that, it’ll be interesting to see how far the Cavs will go with their newfound star-studded lineup.
