Breaking news! Harden has been traded to the Cavaliers. Does he have a chance to compete for a championship this time? I'm quite pessimistic!

So this is what people often mean when they say LeBron is joining Cleveland...

The Cavaliers sent 26-year-old guard Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Clippers to acquire 36-year-old James Harden.

The salaries are roughly equal (Harden $39.2 million / Garland $39.5 million), so no extra salary matching was required.

To make the trade happen, Harden voluntarily gave up thetrade veto rightsand a 15% trade bonus (about $2.3 million).

The Beard’s salary this season is $39.18 million, and he will face a player option this summer. Earlier reports said Harden wants a fully guaranteed two-year extension.

The news just broke yesterday, and today it’s finalized.

What does the Emperor think? Let me share some honest thoughts today!

Regarding Cleveland, I’ve said before:

Don’t be fooled by their strong regular season — the Garland + Mitchell combo just doesn’t work.

Now, they’re just trying a different approach.

Although Harden hasn’t won a championship, he can’t teach Mitchell how to win one either.

But Harden’s level is definitely higher than Garland’s, right?

Let’s focus on The Beard.

If you’re a Harden fan, you might like to hear this:

The Cavaliers will be the fifth team Harden has played for in the past six years, after stints with the Rockets, Nets, 76ers, and Clippers.

What does it mean that he actively requested a move from Los Angeles to Cleveland?

At 37, he still has a strong desire and determination to win a championship; he genuinely wants to get one.

In the NBA, many players have never won a title and claim how much they crave it, but not all can be as straightforward as Harden when facing real financial losses.

He is serious about chasing a championship, not just saying it casually.

Compared to the Clippers, the Cavaliers do have a better chance.

Especially considering the overall competition in the Eastern Conference — you can tell just by looking at the All-Star selections, no need to elaborate.

However, you might not like what I’m about to say next, and you might even want to scold me — that’s okay.

Imagine an employee who changed jobs five times in six years, never satisfied, whose family always blames the bosses or colleagues for the problems...

Is it possible that the employee himself also has significant issues?

Honestly, when I saw Harden’s trade request yesterday, I wasn’t too surprised but puzzled.

But after these years, I’ve gotten used to it...

Fans of Harden have criticized the Nets, 76ers, Rockets, and Clippers a lot, haven’t they?

Is Harden really just unlucky that he always encounters these troubles?

That’s why I often dislike the phrase “Harden leaves without owing anyone.”

Now it has become a joke among fans about Harden.

If you, like me, once hoped he would win a championship.

But after repeated failures, your mindset becomes calm, and you just let it go.

Going to Cleveland, is there really something to celebrate?

I’m quite pessimistic.

Competitive sports are extremely harsh and favor youth.

Harden missed his chance at 27; can we expect him to achieve it at 37?

Maybe that’s asking too much.

Unfortunately, his prime coincided with the era of the cosmic Warriors.

But who doesn’t have regrets?

There’s a saying: people often realize near the end of life that their greatest regret is regretting past regrets.

In movies, regret is the prelude to a hero’s rise; in life, it’s a poison that drags people down.

So, in the end, we have to keep moving forward!