4 Cavaliers who improved their trade value in 2022-23

Lost in the bitterness of the ending was how great of a season the Cleveland Cavaliers truly had. Just two seasons removed from winning 22 games they exploded for 51 games and the fourth seed. Yes, the five-game exit to the New York Knicks was painful, but the theory of this team is sound.

The Cavs now have to use its limited assets to improve on the margins and turn this team from regular-season good to playoff-good. Doing so will involve free agency, but it will also likely mean trades. Not every player on the Cavs will be offered in trades, but it’s important for the team to understand the value of every player on the roster.

Some players had a rough year, while others played well. With such a strong season, which players on the team improved their trade value this season?

Darius Garland improved his trade value

Darius Garland was an All-Star last season after he took a major step forward, averaging 21.7 points per game as the centerpiece of the Cavaliers’ offense. Yet that success came in the absence of another on-ball creator; coming into this season, it was still a question mark of how he would look playing alongside Donovan Mitchell.

The answer was that he would look fantastic. Garland improved his efficiency from the perimeter to offset a tiny dip in volume, and accordingly averaged nearly identical numbers to last season despite the addition of Mitchell and his workload. He can score on-ball, off-the-ball, and spaces the floor from every angle. His ability to thrive with Mitchell unlocks the ceiling of this Cleveland team.

That makes Garland that much more valuable on the trade market. Not only did he prove his breakout season was no fluke, but he is now a candidate for a massive package from a team in need of an on-ball star (the Orlando Magic, for example) or one looking to add him alongside other on-ball stars (New Orleans or Chicago). Garland isn’t on the trade block, but if he ever was teams would be lining up for him.