Constructing the perfect dream offseason for the Cavs

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Darius Garland (right) and Lamar Stevens, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Constructing the Cavs’ dream offseason: Max extension for Darius Garland

There are every year young players entering their fourth season who are no-brainer max extension candidates, the kind who are offered that max contract the second league rules allow. Last season Luka Doncic and Trae Young fell cleanly into that category, players who had already proven themselves at an All-NBA level. This offseason Zion Williamson and Ja Morant fall into that category.

The next category is a trickier one. These are players who have already proven they are star-level talents, but who aren’t no-brainer superstars. Does a team offer the full max, or do they try to negotiate something a little more team-friendly since they are giving a player that security a year early?

Last season Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Michael Porter Jr. both fell into this camp; they both ended up with maximum rookie extensions. DeAndre Ayton did too and when Phoenix wouldn’t offer the max talks stalled out. Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a less lucrative deal due to his injury issues, and players such as Collin Sexton and Miles Bridges chose to bet on themselves this year heading into free agency. That worked for Bridges, and unfortunately did not for Sexton.

This summer Darius Garland falls into that second group, a player who has already made an All-Star team but hasn’t necessarily demonstrated he is a true superstar. Do the Cavs think they need another season before deciding he is a no-brainer max player? Does that insult Garland and start to damage their relationship?

Garland has been incredible growing into a star player, an on-ball creator who can score inside, outside and hit his teammates with passing skills that improve their likelihood of scoring. He has some defensive limitations, but he’s better than someone like Trae Young and plays the position least impacted by poor defense.

The Cavs should offer the full maximum, although without a player option and with modest kickers for making All-NBA. That seems a reasonable concession from Garland for the early security but still provides him the label of being a max player. The Cavs are preparing to go “all-in” on Garland as their offensive centerpiece, and they should back that up with the contract offer now.