At this point, Cleveland Cavaliers fans are well-aware of what the team has in Darius Garland, who was recently named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, and deservedly so. After having a bounce-back season last year, Garland has really burst onto the scene in Year 3 with 19.8 points and 8.2 assists per contest.
He looks to be an emerging star for the Cavaliers, and has had the third-year leap that many expected him to have coming into the season in the process. He’s one of the significant reasons why the Cavs have been one of the league’s surprise teams in 2021-22, and looking onward, he looks to be a cornerstone player for the Wine and Gold.
That said, with the injuries to the likes of Ricky Rubio, and to some extent, Collin Sexton before that, it has admittedly played into Garland’s splits for the season increasing, objectively. Since Rubio went down with a torn ACL in late December, in particular, Garland’s had a huge workload, even with the group moving the ball well in general.
With Sexton and Rubio out though, it’s made Garland’s playmaking and shot creation all the more crucial. I’m not disputing that, and in that realm, it’s understandable why the Cavaliers have reportedly been seeking perimeter/wing help, and along the lines, Cleveland is reportedly “trying to acquire” Caris LeVert ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Indiana is reportedly seek two first-round picks for LeVert, and that’d be quite a price to pay, and I wouldn’t be on-board with that. We’ll have to see on the LeVert-Cavs rumors. As far as others that have been rumored as potential trade targets, Eric Gordon, Terrence Ross, Buddy Hield, and seemingly, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and Harrison Barnes have been, too.
One would expect the Cavaliers to make some sort of move, and they’re reportedly shopping framework of deals involving Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract and draft capital; perhaps another low-salary player could be involved in those, also. But it appears more so with seconds with the Rubio deal, based on a report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, at least when it comes to LeVert and Gordon in possible trades.
In any case, while a move would be sensible, in some capacity, I do have to acknowledge how Brandon Goodwin has played, and in relief of Garland for bench stretches typically, has often done a solid job. Based on what Goodwin has shown when given meaningful opportunities, he’s more than established himself as playmaking insurance for Cleveland.
Goodwin is establishing himself as playmaking insurance for the Cavs, and looks to be a more than capable backup lead guard.
Goodwin, who was a 10-day hardship signing when Cleveland was lacking available guards because of injury/COVID-19 health and safety protocols, has done an admirable job in his rotational stretches. And in a few spot starts, he’s filled in about as well as anyone from the Cavs could’ve hoped for.
Goodwin was on consecutive two-way deals the last two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, and has made a couple of appearances this season with the Cavaliers’ G League, the Cleveland Charge, for context.
But all things considered, I’ve been more than satisfied with Goodwin’s play, and even more so in recent weeks, particulary in relation to this playmaking.