Cavs face decisions on James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Kenny Atkinson after Knicks’ sweep
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a historic 22-point collapse in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with national media blaming James Harden for both scoring struggles and defensive lapses.
- The team traded Darius Garland for Harden mid-season to get a bigger, tougher backcourt, believing Harden's presence improved their playoff prospects despite Garland being a fan favorite and two-time All-Star.
- Key questions loom over the Cavaliers' future, including Donovan Mitchell’s contract extension, coach Kenny Atkinson’s job security, and whether the current roster construction is sufficient to contend for a title.
- Harden is expected to re-sign with the Cavaliers on a two-year deal at a reduced salary, while the team faces significant salary cap challenges that limit their flexibility to pursue major free agents or trades without major roster changes.
- Owner Dan Gilbert acknowledges progress but insists the team is still far from where it needs to be, highlighting ongoing uncertainty about whether the current core can win a championship.