Cleveland Cavaliers President Koby Altman addressed the trade for James Harden, one of the franchise’s major moves ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
What Did the Cavaliers President Say To Shed Light on the James Harden Trade?
The Cavaliers traded for Harden, sending Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. The veteran and former NBA MVP is expected to make his Cavaliers debut against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Speaking to the media after the megadeal, Altman was lavish in his praise of James Harden and spoke of what excited him to “pull the trigger” on the blockbuster trade.
“James is a savant,” the team’s head honcho said. “He knows our dynamic. He knew our depth chart and how he would fit in. James identified that he wanted to be here. And so that excited me even more, the fact that he knew our depth chart really well. And so, all of that together, obviously made us pull the trigger on that.”
Altman was also aware of Harden’s availability. “He played 79 games last year at 35 minutes a night. He’s extremely durable. The guys that play at this level are rare.” He further added, “They are elite at their crafts,” he said. “They take care of their bodies. They are part of the top 75 team of all time.”
James Harden • 55pts • 10tpm • 65%fg #jemihoops pic.twitter.com/6HVACpwrjD
— jemiHoops (@jemiHoops) February 6, 2026
Harden comes into the Cavaliers fold on the back of some solid numbers. In his 44 games for the Clippers this season, ‘The Beard’ averaged 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. With another prolific shooter in Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers will believe their chances of making a deep playoff run are bright.
Harden Opens Up About Cavaliers Trade
Earlier, James Harden weighed in on his trade to a new franchise. “In Cleveland, I see an opportunity to win in the East — they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above,” Harden told ESPN. “So as much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go. I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance.”
Adding Harden to the mix improves the Cavaliers’ odds of winning the title. At the time of writing, they are fourth in the East with a 31-21 record. With 30 games remaining in the season, they have enough time to help Harden adjust to their playbook.
With his elite passing and playmaking skills, the veteran guard is expected to elevate the team after it has fallen short of their goals over the last couple of seasons.
