CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers spent last season changing directions in the middle of a championship chase. Now they get to find out what the new direction looks like with an entire season to work with.

Cleveland acquired James Harden from the Clippers for Darius Garland and a future second-round pick at the trade deadline, pairing one of the best playmakers of his generation with Donovan Mitchell. The move helped push the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals, where their season ended against New York.

This summer, Cleveland reshaped the future of its franchise. Harden returned on a three-year, $97 million contract, Mitchell signed a four-year extension, and the Cavaliers will enter the season built around those two guards, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.

Last season provided enough evidence to understand why Cleveland chose continuity. Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, while Harden averaged 23.6 points, 8.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds after arriving in Cleveland.

For years, too much of Cleveland’s postseason offense became some variation of “Donovan, please fix this.” Harden changes that equation because the Cavaliers now have another elite creator who can organize the offense, manipulate defenses, and manufacture productive possessions.

This season will be the real test because Harden is no longer joining the team in February. Cleveland has an entire training camp, preseason, and 82-game schedule to figure out how the two guards fit together, how their minutes should be staggered, and how much offense should run through each player.

There are obvious concerns. Harden is 37, and Cleveland traded away a younger All-Star in Garland to get him. This is a win-now move, and the window is not indefinite.

That makes Mobley especially important. He averaged 18.2 points, nine rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season, and another step offensively could determine how dangerous Cleveland becomes when defenses focus on Mitchell and Harden.

The Cavaliers also added Peyton Watson, giving them more length, athleticism, and defensive versatility on the wing..

Cleveland was one series away from the NBA Finals despite making one of its biggest roster changes midway through the season. Now the Cavaliers return with the partnership intact, a full offseason to prepare, and a roster built around the belief that Mitchell and Harden can take them further.

Last season was the experiment.

This season is where Cleveland finds out whether it works.