The Cleveland Cavaliers look uncharacteristically poor whenever Donovan Mitchell is not on the court, and that needs to change.
Any team in any sport would look less lethal without their best player available, but the Cavaliers become an entirely different, nearly unwatchable squad whenever Mitchell is not on the hardwood. In the last two seasons, Cleveland's All-Star point guard Darius Garland has been the focal point of the team's ball movement and offensive orchestration. Now, Garland looks lost and rushed on the Cavaliers ever since the team reinvented their offense in the middle of the season.
While Garland has had a handful of great games that remind fans of the electric theatrics he can provide, they have been far too few and far too infrequent. In the games when the Cavaliers play to Garland's strengths, he can put on a performance for the ages. His effortless knack for finding the open shooter or cutter makes forwards and big men shine next to DG, earning the young guard numerous comparisons to past legends such as Steve Nash or Chris Paul.
This year, it has become apparent that the style that makes Cleveland look best is not Garland's best style, unfortunately. Garland can dissect a defense and pick them apart methodically with his passing, finishing and shooting. The Cavaliers, however, need more fluidity with playmaking coming from their bigs and off-ball sets. Garland is an entirely different player in these fast-paced offenses.
While Garland's ability to generate open looks and passing lanes has remained among the best in the Association, his passing efficiency has dipped to the sixth percentile at -0.87, per BBall-Index (subscription required). With the Cavaliers in a position to win now, Garland's inconsistent regression could spell trouble for his long-term fit in Cleveland. As painful as it can be to consider losing a homegrown star, the Cavs might be forced into a position to look at possible major changes this summer if Garland cannot step it up in the postseason.
The Cleveland Cavaliers do not have to trade Darius Garland
A Darius Garland trade is nothing more than conjecture or fantasy right now. The trade deadline has passed, and no team will be able to make a deal for the next few months. If the Cavaliers cannot trade Garland, and they also do not have to do it if he returns to form. As much flack as Garland has earned over the last few weeks, his entire season has been derailed with freak injuries to himself and his teammates. If the Cavaliers can get healthy and find any semblance of rhythm by the playoffs, Darius Garland could prove every doubt surrounding him currently wrong just as fast as it formed.
Without Darius Garland, the Cavaliers would not have been in a position to bring Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. Garland sparked Cleveland's rise to contention, regardless of a down year. The Cavs' season has had every reason to fall apart since opening night when Jarrett Allen was absent. Instead, they sit third in the Eastern Conference with fewer than a dozen games left in the regular season. While they might not be the leading powerhouse in the East, they are far from a laughing stock.
Where the Cavaliers might have to consider a Garland trade is this offseason if he falls off more in the playoffs. Cleveland has an All-NBA guard with MVP hype quietly rising around him in Donovan Mitchell. He needs a second bonafide star at his side if the Cavs want to make a true contender with him at the helm. Garland is supposed to be that and has all the talent to be a top guy on a championship team. It might just not be the right fit in Cleveland, and this postseason will be the best gauge for the future potential of this backcourt duo.
If the future holds a new home for Garland's talents, Cleveland needs to do right by DG and make sure his destination can give him success for a long time as he develops more. These three proposals could be mutually beneficial for the Cavaliers and Darius Garland.
Trade Proposal No. 1 - Cavaliers pair Garland with another unicorn
If there is any archetype of player that Darius Garland has proven he thrives playing with, it is a versatile big man with star potential. Trading Garland to the San Antonio Spurs to pair with Victor Wembanyama has already been discussed recently. Still, the Cavaliers could get a better return if they opt to send DG south in a draft-night deal.
This trade would have to take place either on draft night or shortly thereafter, as the Cavaliers cannot trade this year's pick until they make a selection due to the Stepien Rule, named after the most infamous owner in Cleveland sports history. In this deal, Cleveland sends Garland to the Spurs in return for a young dynamic wing and a veteran point guard alongside a high draft pick this season (top six protected) and another in 2027 from the crumbling Atlanta Hawks.
While the Spurs get the best player in this trade, the Cavs add two players who could instantly help Donovan Mitchell and impact winning. They also get two first-round picks which could be packaged in a future trade or kept in case of emergency. This deal does not give Cleveland a genuine star for Mitchell, making it less favorable from the Cavaliers' perspective.
Following this trade, the Cavaliers could explore another option with a Western Conference team who is in search of a star point guard.
Trade Proposal No. 2 - Cavaliers and Lakers strike a deal
Every Cavaliers fan knows the magic that happens when LeBron James has a dynamic point guard at his side. The Los Angeles Lakers have been searching for that point guard ever since he arrived, even chasing a reunion with Kyrie Irving numerous times. If the Lakers do not snag Trae Young this summer as they hope, Darius Garland could be the perfect fit for both James and Anthony Davis.
If the Cavaliers trade Darius Garland, they will undoubtedly want to ensure they avoid another undersized backcourt with little defense. Austin Reaves, while once again not a star player, solves a lot of Cleveland's issues in the backcourt. Reaves can heat up quick and take over a game on a moment's notice, and he is no slouch on defense. The Cavaliers also get a proven playoff performer in Rui Hachimura, giving them even greater forward depth with another reliable 3/4 option.
Jalen Hood-Schifino serves as a pseudo-draft pick in this deal, as the Cavs could value his size and versatility as a guard prospect for the future. The 2029 draft pick is one of the most coveted picks in recent history, giving the Cavaliers a fairly hefty haul for Garland. Reaves and Hachimura are two players who would complement Cleveland, and the two future assets give them flexibility for future growth.
Although this trade again does not give Cleveland a definitive second option, it might be the best trade for Darius Garland's future while giving the Cavaliers a path to get even better in the future. Garland would instantly thrive with James and Davis as partners, and the Cavs bring in playoff risers.
The boldness only grows from here, as the Cavaliers might look to land a true star in a Darius Garland swap in this final deal.
Trade Proposal No. 3 - Cavaliers and Magic take the next step, Nets finally rebuild
The Cleveland Cavaliers already have an elite frontcourt with Jarrett Allen's career season and Evan Mobley's growing offensive prowess. In a Darius Garland trade, the Cavs should prioritize rounding out their starting five with a dominant forward. As the Brooklyn Nets teeter on the verge of a total breakdown, the Cavaliers do not have the assets to complete a direct two-team deal for Brooklyn forward Mikal Bridges. If they add in the Orlando Magic, another team ready to make the next leap toward the Finals, Cleveland could land Bridges and more.
In a blockbuster three-team trade, the Cavaliers send Darius Garland and Dean Wade to the Orlando Magic and receive Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in return. The Nets take back a massive star-level deal from the Magic, adding three young talents and a wealth of first-round picks.
The Orlando Magic have an existing young core with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but they lack a true point guard to facilitate their offense. If the Magic want to take that next step, Garland is the perfect option. The Cavs, though, would hardly consider taking any deal centered around draft picks when they want to win now. Entering as the third team, the Nets may have no choice but to rebuild after years of disappointing seasons in NBA purgatory.
Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith are two players who would instantly make the Cavaliers better. They both are lethal three-point shooters and defend at a high level. Bridges takes a massive portion of the scoring load off Mitchell and is known as a prototypical ironman, never missing a regular season game in his career.
Every team will be chasing down Bridges if he becomes available, but the Cavaliers have a difficult yet realistic route to add him. As the NBA's parity grows and navigating the salary cap restrictions only becomes more strenuous, complicated multi-team trades for star players will hardly become unordinary. The Cavs added Jarrett Allen to the team in 2021 from a convoluted James Harden trade. As bold as this type of deal could be, Cleveland could make it happen.
With all this being said, any Darius Garland trade is months away at the earliest, and these conversations may be entirely null and void by the time Cleveland's postseason run ends. Garland is a truly special talent with an infectious positive attitude. The Cavaliers would truly miss his presence, and the fans would, too. Even if the team gets better, a Garland trade is not a fun idea. If the Cavaliers do reach a point where they have to look at moving on from Darius Garland, however, these three proposals could make a path for both Garland and Cleveland to benefit from it.