Following Tuesday's major trade, James Harden spoke with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. He denied requesting a trade but stated he is "excited" to join the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Harden, one of the NBA's top-10 all-time scorers without a championship, believes his chances of winning a title are better in Cleveland than with his former team, the LA Clippers.
"In Cleveland I see an opportunity to win in the East," Harden told Shelburne. "They have a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance."
The trade deadline also saw significant moves involving Jaren Jackson Jr. and Nikola Vučević, marking a highly active period for team rosters.