These 3 Cavs should hit the ground running next season

#1: Darius Garland

The first Cavaliers player that should hit the ground running next season is Darius Garland.

Garland emerged as one of the best young guards in the NBA this season, as he made his first All-Star appearance, and had averages of 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game. That assists clip was sixth in the NBA during this regular season, and on the year, Garland was seventh in total assists.

In the month of March, Garland broke the Cavaliers record for point-assist double-doubles in a calendar month with 11, passing Mark Price in doing so. The Cavs as a team struggled then, I believe partly because of injuries, but Garland continued to play outstanding basketball in that span.

So, in short, even while some of the increased splits for him, even more so in the closing stretch of the season, had some to do with it, Garland was terrific for Cleveland all year, and next season, I believe he’ll pick up where he left off. That’s even with Sexton likely back in the fold, potentially coming off a new deal, and whether or not Garland is extended perhaps via max deal, which could reportedly play out this offseason it appears.

Garland is still a young player, and at times, he can overextend, leading to some ill-advised turnover plays, but by and large, he’s made major strides over the course of the past two seasons, and I’d expect him to only get better in Year 4. And at the outset of next season, after hopefully another productive offseason, I’d anticipate that Garland keeps improving as a playmaker and well-rounded scorer early on in his fourth year, which will end up being his age-23 season.

I’d think that we could see Garland make his second consecutive All-Star Game next season, too, which could be another one of many of those to come for him in his career with the Cavs for the long haul it appears.