For years, the Cleveland Cavaliers waited for Darius Garland to take a leap. He showed flashes every here and there, but he wasn't the consistent, cold-blooded killing, three-level scorer the team needed him to be.
With all the injuries and the uncertainty about his fit next to Donovan Mitchell, they had to make a decision. James Harden became available, and Koby Altman knew it was time to roll the dice and see where the tide could lead the team.
That move came with plenty of risk. Harden is ten years older, isn't great in the playoffs, and didn't have a long-term commitment to the team. Even so, the Cavs looked like the obvious winners of the deal at first, but not so much now.
Darius Garland is thriving with the Clippers
It took a while for Garland to make his debut with the Los Angeles Clippers. The sample size is limited, but he's looking like the player he could've always been in Cleveland, and he looks like someone who has found his joy on the court again.
Through 15 games (13 starts), Garland has averaged 20.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.7 three-pointers per game. He's shooting 48.7 percent from the floor, 47.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line. The Clippers' defensive rating isn't great with him on the floor (119), but the offensive rating (117) is certainly encouraging.
That said, all moves come with risk. There was always a possibility that Garland would flourish elsewhere, but it was time to break up the core four. They had failed time and time again in the playoffs, and he missed way too many games with injuries.
The Cavs made a risky bet, knowing that their title window wouldn't remain open for much longer. That showed the type of confidence they had in Donovan Mitchell, and trading for Harden may push him closer to signing an extension.
At the end of the day, the Cavs laid their bed with this move. They gave Mitchell the keys to the franchise, and he's done more than enough to let them know that he's up for the challenge. Also, as much as it stings to watch Garland thrive in the Western Conference, Harden has also been great for Kenny Atkinson's team.
Only time will tell who truly won the trade. For now, it looks like both teams should be more than satisfied with what they got.