The Cleveland Cavaliers have a glaring hole in the roster. While they have a pair of premier guards in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, and a pair of elite defensive bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, they have struggled all season to find an option at small forward.
Isaac Okoro is too small and not enough of a floor-spacer (recent late-game heroics notwithstanding). Lamar Stevens is a negative floor spacer. Dean Wade…well, it’s not clear why Dean Wade isn’t starting at the 3. Cedi Osman is too inconsistent offensively and too weak defensively. Caris LeVert just overlaps with the guards too much.
Should the Cleveland Cavaliers make a big trade to upgrade the 3?
What the Cavaliers could most use is a true 3-and-D wing to plug in at the 3; Danny Green five years ago, perhaps. Unfortunately for Cleveland, everyone wants more of those players, and they don’t come cheap. They don’t have any first-round picks to trade, and signing one for the mid-level exception this summer will likely mean getting in line with the rest of the league.
There is a more nuclear option, one that involves trading one of their current stars for a high-end small forward. That would allow their depth to fill in at another position and give them a more balanced starting lineup. The popular trade site Fanspo recently put together such a deal, flipping a beloved member of the core for a forward.
Let’s look at the details of the trade, and then see if anyone on either side would want to make it.
Laying out the Darius Garland trade for the Cavaliers
The trade proposed for this summer by Fanspo is a wild one. Many such constructions would send out Jarrett Allen, sliding Evan Mobley to the 5 in order to add a stud forward. Instead, this deal ships Darius Garland to the New Orleans Pelicans in order to bring back former All-Star Brandon Ingram.
While Garland and Ingram are both one-time All-Stars, this trade rightly values Garland more than Ingram. He has been healthier and more effective than Ingram has. This deal would give the Cavs two starters, one a co-star offensively to play with Mitchell, and a pair of first-round picks.
It’s very likely that the Pelicans would take this trade and toss it into the nearest canal. Ingram is a star at the league’s most coveted position, a knockdown shooter and a reasonably good defender, and he is just 25 years old. Why would they give up Ingram, an all-world defender in Herbert Jones, and two first-round picks?
This deal likely makes Pelicans fans sick. But does that mean it’s a slam dunk move for the Cavaliers?
Should the Cavaliers consider this Darius Garland trade?
Darius Garland is the exact kind of star player every team wants. He started his career in Cleveland, grew into an All-Star, and completely bought into adding another on-ball star that shifted him into a wingman role. He’s rightfully beloved by fans and teammates alike.
Evan so, should the Cavs consider trading him to achieve a more balanced roster? Adding Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones and two first-round picks is a substantial package. Garland didn’t even make an All-Star team this year. Making the deal would allow them to elevate Ricky Rubio into the starting lineup or play a jumbo group with Herb Jones starting at the 2.
It’s likely fair value for a player like Garland, but that doesn’t mean they can make this trade. Garland still has untapped potential as an offensive player, and he has grown each and every year in the league. His playmaking and shot creation is special, and he has a long career ahead of him.
There is a case to be made for taking bold action to upgrade the roster, but trading Darius Garland is not it. This deal is one that makes both fan bases angry and neither team would ever say yes to it. Garland belongs in Cleveland and deserves a chance to see what he can create with this core.