New NBA Rumors Reveal Surprise Stars Cavs Targeted Before James Harden Trade

Before the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired veteran guard James Harden at this season's trade deadline, they reportedly explored multiple potential additions that would've made a major splash.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com explained that the Cavs were motivated to improve their roster ahead of the playoffs, and he revealed the other players they considered acquiring before landing Harden.

"If it wasn't Harden, it might've been someone else," Fedor explained. "The Cavs wondered about Boston's appetite for moving Derrick White — a non-starter given Jayson Tatum's speedy recovery from a ruptured Achilles. They contemplated a Jrue Holiday swap with Portland given Holiday's defensive acumen and championship pedigree, ultimately determining he wasn't enough of a reliable offensive engine. There were a few other internal discussions, including Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo."

The Cavs sent veteran point guard Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire Harden in February. Cleveland went 19-7 with him in the lineup during the regular season, and the team appeared to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.

Unfortunately, Harden's postseason woes, which he has long been known for, emerged once again. The Cavs endured back-to-back seven-game battles against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons before getting swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Harden shot just 29.9 percent from three-point range during the postseason and averaged a team-high 4.7 turnovers per game.

After the disappointing playoff exit, Harden expressed confidence that he could help lead the Cavs to success in 2026-27 after a full offseason together.

"I told the guys I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Harden told Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "So, if I got to play off the ball, less shots, I'm willing to do it. I have no problem with that. You can come talk to me about anything and I'm willing to do it. That was the mindset."

The Cavs will have some tough decisions to make this offseason as they try to establish themselves as title contenders heading into the 2026-27 campaign.