Cavaliers Receives: James Harden
Clippers Receive: Darius Garland, second-round pick
Listen, NBA general managers may have their own logic and process. However, this feels like an absolutely inexcusable trade by Cleveland. So, let’s at least try to understand. The only positive spin for Cleveland is flipping Garland’s three-year contract into Harden’s two-year contract (with basically the same salary). Although Garland has struggled with injuries over the years, he’s still a freshly 26-year-old guard with two All-Star appearances under his belt. When he’s healthy, he’s a nice piece. Sure, he’s overpaid, but that’s what tends to happen with promising young players.
That being said, it felt like there’s no scenario where essentially salary-dumping him for Harden makes sense. It doesn’t drastically raise their ceiling as a team. There might be better cohesion between Harden and Donovan Mitchell, but Harden just doesn’t feel like the answer for a team looking to get over the hump—particularly in the playoffs. Ultimately, the concept of trading a nice young player under contract (overpaid or not) for someone an entire decade older just doesn’t make sense. The fact that Los Angeles also received a draft pick is truly laughable. Fortunately, flipping DeAndre Hunter into Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder gives Cleveland increased balance within its rotation.
Celtics Receive: Nikola Vucevic, second-round pick
Bulls Receive: Anfernee Simons, second-round pick
Another head-scratching deal that feels somewhat odd for both sides. Although Simons hasn’t been as productive this season, it’s still confusing to see an expiring-for-expiring trade where it doesn’t feel like either team got better. At least Chicago can portray the illusion of acquiring a younger player for a guy who has never made the second round or been on a team higher than the sixth seed in Vucevic. It’s unclear where Simons actually fits within the Bulls’ deep group of guards or if they actually have plans to keep him beyond this season.
On the other hand, Vucevic’s fit in Boston feels less than ideal. Not only does he feel like a very anti-Joe Mazulla player, but they’ve been finding nice success with their collection of overlooked bigs. Vucevic is a good basketball player, but not an asset for winning a title in the NBA. His expiring contract (like Simons) will allow the Celtics to explore some new options in free agency this summer.