Since Darius Garland's 2019 draft selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the talented point guard has found himself in the shadow of another ball-dominant scoring guard. In Shams Charania's end-of-season article surrounding the Cavaliers, Garland may be looking for a change of scenery and role if Donovan Mitchell sticks around with Cleveland.
While Mitchell's contract extension is not a guarantee for the Cavaliers, Charania mentioned a growing sentiment that the superstar guard would stay put and agree to a lucrative new deal. In that case, Garland's agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, will meet with Cleveland's front office to discuss a new hometown for the one-time All-Star point guard. In Garland's single season as the leading guard for the Cavs, he earned his single All-Star appearance after two seasons alongside Collin Sexton and playing a diminished role. Since Mitchell's arrival, he has never reclaimed his illustrious role as a top option.
Donovan Mitchell will be eligible for a four-year, $200.4 million extension with the Cavaliers as of the start of free agency on June 30. While Mitchell may opt to ask for a trade himself, Mitchell's public display of love for the Cleveland organization on Twitter (X) suggests his intentions are more likely to stay with the Cavaliers rather than leave. The ramifications for this decision would be major, with both Garland and Jarrett Allen becoming available on the trade market afterward, per Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid.
Darius Garland might need a new team than the Cavaliers to reach his ceiling
In a radio interview with ESPN Cleveland following the news of Garland's potential trade request, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst confirmed that Darius and Donovan are not "at each other's throats" and is purely a move based on fit. At 24 years old, Garland has yet to reach his full potential as a star in the NBA, but he would likely never recognize it behind Mitchell in Cleveland. For his personal growth and legacy, it may be inevitable that Garland finds a new home in the case of a Donovan Mitchell extension in the early offseason.
Garland's departure may be one of many, as the Cavaliers enter this offseason with various members of the organization potentially suited to move to their next team. With Garland on the market, a wide array of franchises will be chasing an opportunity to add the talented guard, viewing his downward production this season as a result of an abnormal fortune with injuries and a backseat role behind Mitchell.
From contenders to aspiring future contenders, Darius Garland will command a haul in return as one the largest names in trade rumors this summer. The Vanderbilt prospect has shown countless times that his flashy drives to the rim and high-IQ kick-outs to shooters can elevate his teammates and the organization supporting him.
With Mitchell's contract extension more likely than not after the star reached out to Woj to express his love for the organization and his teammates, these five teams should be calling the Cavaliers the moment Garland's agent requests a change of scenery.
1. To Orlando Magic could go from rivals to allies for Darius Garland and Cavaliers
Darius Garland's best season came during a team when the Cavaliers were viewed as nothing more than a young with exciting potential. Currently, the Orlando Magic are seen in a similar light, though they already have more firepower and playoff success than the Cavs had back then. While the Cavaliers eliminated the Magic in a seven-game series in Round 1, the two parties could mutually benefit from one another in a Garland swap.
Orlando will search for an answer at point guard after another season with a jumbled offensive scheme. With floor spacing still haunting the Magic offense, too, any talented shooting guard will be at the top of Orlando's target list this summer, and Garland will be no exception. The Magic have a wealth of cap space to work with this summer, making a trade a fairly simple process if Orlando can lure Cleveland with their young talent and draft compensation.
Considering the fact that both the Cavs and Magic will search for more shooting this summer, the Cavaliers may still look elsewhere for a trade partner in order to secure players who complement Mobley and Mitchell with reliable knockdown abilities from range. In the case that another team gets involved, though, Garland may find himself playing in a much sunnier state soon with a season pass to Disney World.
2. Sharing an agent matters, and LeBron James knows that
The world looked on as LeBron James made a surprise appearance at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Cleveland to support his former squad. Sitting at his sides were his wife Savannah James and long-time agent and fellow Akron native Rich Paul. Perhaps not-so-coincidentally, James cheered on a fellow Klutch Sports client Darius Garland from his sideline seats.
Whether it is LeBron James and Klutch or any other star player with a renowned agency behind them, players ready for trade will have a better chance to wind up with the same team another agency client is on than another. With rumored Los Angeles Lakers trade target Trae Young exiting Klutch in favor of CAA Sports, the Lakers may turn their focus to other star guards in their attempts to build another contender around James before he retires.
The chances that Cavaliers' own Dan Gilbert gladly trade an All-Star talent to help LeBron win a title outside of Cleveland again might be slim, but the Lakers' potential trade package might be the best available if Austin Reaves is included in the deal. The Lakers also possess three tradeable first-round picks this summer, all of which are considered highly valuable across the Association since they all will come after James' eventual retirement.
Both LeBron and Anthony Davis would give Garland ideal options to showcase his ability to uplift his teammates. While Garland benefits from Davis as a dominant big and lob threat, LeBron finally finds a reliable facilitator to allow him to play off-ball more and conserve his energy during the regular season.
The Lakers will be entrenched in drama at the start of free agency with D'Angelo Russell's player option, but if Russell declines, Los Angeles may let him walk away for nothing and bring Garland into the fold. Still, this deal is dead on arrival if Reaves is not included alongside Jalen Hood-Schifino and some amount of draft compensation.
3. The San Antonio Spurs need a sidekick for Wemby
The other most likely suitor for Trae Young, if he leaves the Atlanta Hawks, is the San Antonio Spurs after struggling all season to maximize Victor Wembanyama on offense without a reliable option at point guard. Young's known toxic behavior toward coaches and selfish on-court style could drive the Spurs away, though, and Garland could quickly become an ideal replacement.
In the wake of Garland's trade rumors breaking, the Spurs have taken an early lead as favorites to land the All-Star guard. San Antonio's young wings and a myriad of draft picks available would surely entice the Cavaliers to add another versatile wing who can develop alongside Mobley and Mitchell year by year. Rumors swirling around a potential pairing of Garland and Wemby surfaced earlier in the season and could soon come to fruition.
Garland's years with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley would transition seamlessly to a partnership with another young star big man such as Wembanyama. Throughout his career, Garland has thrived best when paired with an elite big who can dive to the rim off a pick-and-roll action and look out for a lob or draw defenders to give Garland space to create on the perimeter.
Adding Garland to San Antonio this summer allows the Spurs to shift their focus to surrounding their two stars with masterful defenders and league-leading floor spacers. For the Cavaliers, they move off of Garland's long-term guaranteed money and surround their own guard-big duo with shooters on the wing and a source of draft assets to flip later in more trades.
4. Can the Nets bring Garland to New York instead?
If Mitchell stays in Cleveland, both the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are eliminated from the bring-Mitchell-home sweepstakes. After the Knicks stopped showing heavy interest in Mitchell to avoid a poor fit between Jalen Brunson and Mitchell, they would be even less intrigued by adding an even smaller guard next to Brunson with Garland.
For Brooklyn, however, Garland finally gives Mikal Bridges somebody to rely on other than himself. If the Nets can also keep Nic Claxton, the Nets would have a solid young core and become a competitive challenger in the East. If the Cavs finally prioritize Evan Mobley's development as a center next year, then Brooklyn sharpshooter Cam Johnson and veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith would build the framework of a worthy return for the Cavaliers.
Garland would not make the Nets instant contenders, but there is no realistic path for Brooklyn to eclipse the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks or even Cleveland Cavaliers anytime soon. This option at least gives the Nets fanbase a reason to show up to games and cheer on an exciting squad. The current Nets construction is stubbornly holding onto and wasting proven talent instead of moving toward a positive future.
Sooner or later, a full rebuild will need to arrive in Brooklyn. Garland can either lead the next generation of Nets basketball or jumpstart a rebuild following another trade.
5. LA Clippers are wild card candidates
The aging LA Clippers may be looking at a Paul George trade if George opts into his player option and requests a trade or works out a sign-and-trade in unrestricted free agency. Though George's age and recent injury past may concern the Cavaliers, his defensive prowess and continued production on offense should still warrant a conversation between the franchises.
In his 13th season in the Association, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals for LA, helping lead them to the Playoffs once more. The team's result was less than satisfactory, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1 without Kawhi Leonard available. Still, George's value across the league commands respect, and the veteran forward could be the missing piece in Cleveland's core to go all-in on a fight to the title in the next few seasons.
A commitment to George in 2024 is a late opportunity to revert a missed opportunity to bring PG13 to Cleveland during his prime back in 2017 amid Kyrie Irving's trade request after the 2017 Finals loss to Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. While George is not the All-Star number-one option he used to be, Mitchell and Mobley would be elevated by his presence and impact on both ends of the court. His shot-blocking, physical defense and unending effort on offense perfectly match what the Cavs need.
For LA, Garland offers a dynamic and young point guard to facilitate their offense and usher in the next generation of Clippers basketball. With few draft assets at hand, the Clippers may not find another avenue to build a competitive roster for some time after Kawhi eventually retires. Garland adds an ideal point guard to the Clippers with insurance for the future. LA's interest in Garland likely hinges on the futures of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, but the young guard would be a worthwhile target for an aging contender in need of a hopeful path forward for the future.
The end of Darius Garland's era in Cleveland will be a bittersweet moment regardless of his destination or the return the Cavaliers receive. His tenure has cemented his part in Cavaliers history. Without Garland's breakout season, the Cavs never acquired Donovan Mitchell the next summer. Evan Mobley's rookie season is not historically great and complemented by having a perfect guard next to him.
Still, the best option for Garland's future prospects likely does not include the Cavaliers once Mitchell agrees to a contract extension. Cleveland owes it to the originator of the newest generation of Cavs basketball to give him a bright future elsewhere while still protecting the team's interest and demanding a high package in return.