How Cavs’ Darius Garland went from an uneven rookie to a max player

Things start to come together in Year 3, and Garland should continue to ascend

To the last point, Sexton, Cleveland’s leading scorer the previous two years, was lost for the season very early on. The Cavs missed his scoring and shot creation at important junctures this year. Ricky Rubio was the veteran the Cavs needed and was another ball-handler/playmaker that they needed and was a key reason the Cavs were the surprise of the league to many was lost for the season mid-way. Rubio is back now with the Cavaliers as well via free agency, for what it’s worth. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen also missed a good amount of games as well, as an aside.

Inspite of all that Garland did what stars do, continued to elevate his game, he carried this team offensively, kept them afloat and the Cavs were able to still stay competitive inspite of all the injuries, largely. That was before they tailed off near the end and fell to the play-in losing then, but generally, things started to come together last season.

Garland isn’t the only reason this happened getting lucky enough to get Evan Mobley at 3 was a huge turning point. Mobley could definitely be a superstar in the near future, while he and to a lesser extent Jarrett Allen transformed a bottoming defense. Garland is the teams’ best player, and he is the teams’ most valuable player, he’s the engine that makes everything go and elevates everyone else around him.

Looking back 2019 was the most pivitol moment in this rebuild. Garland because the injury was by no means a sure thing. If the Cavs take Jarrett Culver at 5 it completely changes everything in the rebuild. Hypothetically sure they could’ve still gotten Mobley, but things aren’t anywhere near this bright if they miss on that pick. A lot has been made about the Cavs lottery luck.

At the time that day in May was viewed as bad luck falling to 5, but the Cavaliers are lucky they did. Morant and Garland are the two best players in that draft.

Garland established himself as a legitimate star last year and one of the best point guards in the league. Many say Garland made a leap, however, he made two leaps as he continued to elevate his game. I believe Garland has another level as well and could get on that Morant or Trae Young level next year and that’s what I’m expecting from him. Garland is the teams’ best player, he’s the most important player and like Morant, he’s getting paid like a franchise player now.

Going forward with an ascending Garland, an expected ascension from Mobley and including Allen as part of the core, the Cavs are one of the better young teams in the league, while also having one of the highest upsides long term.

Maybe outsiders outside of this market didn’t see Garland’s ascension coming, but this was the upside the Wine and Gold thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall. It’s the upside fans saw post-All-Star break in 2021-22, and Garland is only getting started and I expect him to continue to ascend next year.