Donovan Mitchell said the Cavaliers are fully embracing a championship mindset following the acquisition of James Harden, pointing to the heightened expectations after Monday’s 119-117 comeback win over Denver.
Cleveland trailed for nearly 43 minutes before rallying late to secure its fourth straight victory. Mitchell acknowledged that adding the 36-year-old Harden signals urgency for the organization.
“You see what’s here. There’s a window. This is the window. This is the time,” Mitchell told cleveland.com. “In a sense, the team is going all in. It’s time to go. When you make that move, understanding James’ age and where he’s at in his career, the time is now.”
Mitchell welcomed the pressure that followed the trade, which sent Darius Garland to the Clippers in exchange for Harden and also brought in Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.
“I love the pressure of it. I love the expectation of it,” Mitchell said. “When you make that move, what are you making it for? To win a championship.”
The win capped a demanding road trip and pushed Cleveland to fourth in the East, with nine wins in its last 10 games. Mitchell and Harden combined for 25 of the Cavs’ final 26 points, including Harden’s game-tying three in the final minute.
“We’re just hooping on vibes right now,” Mitchell said.
“There’s definitely a different energy,” center Jarrett Allen added. “Everybody feels a new energy and another belief that we can go even farther than we did last year.”
Donovan Mitchell Says 'We're Going All In, The Time Is Now' After James Harden Trade https://t.co/mk5vGyryhi
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 10, 2026
