When the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Darius Garland with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the vision was clear: give the keys to a dynamic young point guard and let him steer the franchise back to relevance. Fast forward to today, and while Garland has certainly shown flashes of brilliance, the franchise finds itself at a crossroads - one not unlike the one the Atlanta Hawks just navigated with Trae Young.
Atlanta finally ended the Trae Young experiment, sending the former All-Star to Washington in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert - a return that, frankly, felt underwhelming for a player once viewed as the face of the franchise. It was a move that came a couple years too late, and the Hawks paid the price in diminished trade value.
Now, Cleveland has to ask itself a tough question: is it heading down the same path with Garland?
Garland vs. Young: Different Players, Similar Dilemmas
Let’s be clear - Garland and Young aren’t carbon copies of one another. But in the context of roster construction and team building, they carry similar profiles: undersized, offensively gifted point guards who can shoot, pass, and create - but who also come with major defensive limitations.
Offensively, Young entered the league with a reputation for deep shooting and high-volume scoring, and he's largely delivered. Over eight seasons, he's averaged 25.2 points per game while shooting 35.1% from three - not elite, but respectable given the difficulty of his shot selection. His true shooting percentage of 57.9% reflects a level of efficiency that’s impressive for a player who constantly draws defensive attention.
Where Young has truly separated himself is as a playmaker. He’s averaged 9.8 assists per game for his career and led the league in assist rate three times, including last season when he dished out a league-best 11.6 assists per game. He’s been the engine of Atlanta’s offense from the moment he stepped on the court.
Garland, while not quite the same level of scorer, has carved out his own niche. He’s averaged 18.8 points per game over seven seasons and knocked down threes at a 38.8% clip.
His true shooting percentage (56.8%) is right in line with Young’s, and he’s posted a solid 6.7 assists per game over his career. Garland’s offensive game is smoother, more methodical - less volume, more efficiency.
One key difference? Context.
Garland has played alongside more offensive creators - think Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen - while Young has often shouldered the entire offensive burden in Atlanta. That’s reflected in the usage rates: Young sits at 31.8%, while Garland is at 25.7%.
Young also gets to the line more often, which helps pad his scoring totals.
But on the other side of the ball, both players share the same Achilles heel: defense.
Defensive Struggles and the Impact on Team Success
Neither Garland nor Young has ever posted a positive defensive box plus-minus in any season of their careers. Last season, both ranked dead last on their respective teams in that metric among players who logged at least 15 games. That’s not just a stat - it’s a reflection of how hard it is to build a top-tier defense around guards who can be hunted in pick-and-rolls and struggle to contain bigger, stronger matchups.
It’s not that either player lacks effort. They’re just limited by size and physicality - and when you’re trying to contend, those limitations get magnified.
Injuries and Availability: A Shared Storyline
Injuries have also played a role in shaping the narrative around both players. Young was mostly durable through his first five seasons, playing at least 60 games each year. But last season, he was limited to 54 games due to a finger injury, and this year he’s appeared in just 10 games due to knee and quad issues.
Garland’s early years were marred by injuries, but he’s generally stayed healthy since - until this season. A toe injury has limited him to just 26 games so far, and he’s expected to miss at least another week.
What’s interesting is how each team has fared without their star guard. Atlanta went 19-17 without Young last season - and just 2-8 with him, giving up over 125 points in each of his final five games. That’s a jarring stat.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is 12-7 without Garland this year and 13-13 with him. But it’s worth noting that Garland hasn’t looked like himself for much of the season, clearly hampered by the toe injury. Last year, the Cavs were 60-15 with him in the lineup - a reminder of how impactful he can be when healthy and in rhythm.
The Contract Clock Is Ticking
This is where things start to mirror Atlanta’s situation even more closely.
Young is making over $46 million this season and holds a player option for next year - giving him significant leverage in any long-term planning. That uncertainty contributed to Atlanta’s limited trade return, as teams were wary of giving up assets for a player who could walk in free agency.
Garland, meanwhile, is on the books for over $39 million this season and has two more years left on his deal. That makes him more appealing to potential suitors - they’d be getting a high-level guard under team control, with time to integrate him into their system and culture.
But it also means Cleveland is at a critical juncture. Garland’s value is still high, and the Cavs have to decide whether to ride it out or pivot while the market is still in their favor.
What a Garland Trade Would Mean for Cleveland
If the Cavaliers were to move Garland, it wouldn’t be a white-flag moment. In fact, it could open the door for a more balanced, versatile roster.
First, there’s the cap space. Cleveland is one of the most expensive teams in the league, and moving Garland’s contract would offer some much-needed breathing room.
Second, it would allow Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to take on more offensive responsibility - a shift both players have shown they’re ready for. Mitchell has thrived as a primary initiator, and Mobley continues to grow into a more complete offensive player.
Third, it would give the Cavs more flexibility in how they construct their lineups. Without Garland, they could lean into bigger, more defensively sound guard combinations - something that could pay dividends in a playoff setting.
The Bottom Line
Darius Garland is a fantastic player. He’s a gifted shooter, a crafty playmaker, and a high-IQ floor general. But the Cavaliers have to be honest about where they are and where they want to go.
Atlanta waited too long with Trae Young, and it cost them. Cleveland has a chance to learn from that - to act while Garland’s value is still high and reshape the roster in a way that better aligns with their long-term goals.
It’s not an easy decision. But if the Cavaliers want to avoid the same fate as the Hawks, the time to make that call is now.