Grade the Trade: Cavaliers send Garland to Brooklyn in shocking proposal

Would the Cavaliers really trade Darius Garland?

Look back over that trade offer from the Nets. Three first-round picks, in this case shorting the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. This year’s first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, who fills a position of need and could be a long-term starter. Dorian Finney-Smith, likely worth a first on the trade market as a 3-and-D wing. Spencer Dinwiddie is a capable point guard and absolutely positive value in the deal.

Depending on how you compute it, that’s essentially six first-round picks. It compares favorably to the Donovan Mitchell package, short a couple of pick-swaps. That’s the kind of package a player like Garland deserves. He’s an All-Star not yet in his prime, a dynamic on-ball creator and gifted passer. Teams bend over backward to add that type of player. Add in that he is under team control for such a long time and he would be one of the most valuable players to be traded in recent memory.

That’s what it would take to land Darius Garland. Not matching salary and a first. Not a pu pu platter of role players. If the Cavaliers were ever going to trade Garland, a team would need to come with a mammoth offer.

The problem for the Nets, the Heat, the 76ers, the name-your-team? Garland isn’t on the market. When you have a player like Garland and are trying to compete, you don’t trade a player like Darius Garland. Are there difficulties defensively when you have two small guards like Garland and Mitchell in the backcourt? Absolutely, but there are also unstoppable offensive possibilities.

Given how Garland has improved year after year, do not be surprised if he is the best player on the Cavs in the near future. He’s the kind of player you go all-out to keep, and the Cavs are sure to do that.

Grade: Not happening