Darius Garland Drawing Trade Buzz as Cavaliers Search for Identity
As the NBA trade deadline inches closer, the Cleveland Cavaliers are starting to hear some noise - and a familiar name is at the center of it. Darius Garland, the team’s starting point guard and former All-Star, is expected to draw serious interest from teams around the league, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto.
Why Garland? Simple: some front offices believe that if he were given the keys to an offense - their offense - he could be a true difference-maker.
That belief is rooted in Garland’s skill set. He’s a gifted ball handler with natural playmaking instincts and the ability to create off the dribble.
But this season, things haven’t quite clicked. Garland is averaging 15.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, while shooting just 36.2% from the field and 28.2% from deep.
Those numbers are a step back from his usual production, and they reflect a player still working his way back after offseason toe surgery.
The injury has clearly impacted his burst and rhythm - two things that are essential for a guard who relies on quickness and timing to get to his spots. And when you pair that with the Cavaliers' broader struggles, it’s easy to see why questions are starting to bubble up.
Cleveland sits at 15-12, a record that currently has them slotted for the play-in tournament. That’s not exactly where they expected to be after finishing with the best record in the East last season. But that campaign ended abruptly in the second round, where the Indiana Pacers dispatched them in five games - a reminder that regular-season success doesn’t always translate when the lights get brighter.
One of the ongoing concerns surrounding this team is the fit between Garland and Donovan Mitchell. They’re both talented, no question.
But at 6'1" and 6'3" respectively, they form one of the smaller backcourts in the league. And in a conference loaded with size and switchable perimeter defenders, that lack of defensive versatility has been a sticking point for critics who doubt the Cavs' ability to contend at the highest level.
That’s where the trade chatter comes in. Garland is in the first year of a five-year, $197 million extension - a significant number, but one that several teams are reportedly willing to take on. The Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Brooklyn Nets have all been linked to him in the past, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see those conversations resurface as the deadline approaches.
Garland has spent his entire NBA career in Cleveland, and he’s been a key piece of the franchise’s rebuild post-LeBron. His career averages - 18.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists - reflect a player who has grown into his role and made two All-Star appearances along the way. But the NBA is a business, and the Cavs are at a crossroads.
The question now is whether Cleveland sees Garland as part of its long-term core - or as a valuable trade chip in a league where star movement can reshape franchises overnight.
There’s still time for the Cavaliers to steady the ship this season. But at some point, potential has to turn into production. And if the front office feels like this roster - as currently constructed - can’t make a deep playoff run, tough decisions could be on the horizon.
Garland’s name is already being floated. Whether that turns into real movement remains to be seen. But make no mistake: the league is watching.