Laying out a Darius Garland trade
The Brooklyn Nets are trying to win in this scenario after adding Darius Garland, but so are the Cleveland Cavaliers. The package coming back, therefore, needs to include both win-now pieces and future assets.
That means using a player like Ben Simmons as matching salary is off the table, while a rebuilding team might be willing to take him back. On the other hand, the Nets will need to keep Mikal Bridges to pair with Garland, and likewise with Nic Claxton (a player who doesn’t help the Cavs much).
Here’s how such a deal could look:
The Brooklyn Nets would have a core of Darius Garland, Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson. That’s an incredible amount of shooting. Add a wing at the 2 who can defend guards, be that Royce O’Neale or Joe Harris on the roster or a player off the roster, and they have a team that can win now but is young enough to get even better over the coming years.
It’s a big offer for Garland. In this theoretical situation, is there any chance that the Cleveland Cavaliers would say yes to this trade?