The NBA trade deadline has delivered a seismic shift for Darius Garland, marking the end of his six-and-a-half-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a high-profile move, the All-Star guard was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, along with a second-round pick, in exchange for James Harden. Garland is now focused on carving out a new legacy in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on his departure, Garland expressed gratitude towards the Cavaliers while setting his sights on ambitious goals with the Clippers. “I tip my hat off to the whole Cleveland organization.
They did put a lot in me, invested a lot in me, and took a lot of risk… But now I’m in another good situation over here in L.A.… trying to rebuild this whole brand of the Clippers and trying to make it one of the biggest teams in L.A.,” he shared in a conversation with Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
For Garland, this trade wasn't entirely unexpected. The possibility had been on the horizon, especially after a toe injury sidelined him since January.
With a Grade 1 sprain to his right great toe, Garland has only played 26 games this season and is yet to debut for the Clippers. The team’s president of basketball operations has confirmed that Garland is still recovering from toe surgery, which has caused lingering soreness.
Having spent years as a co-star alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, Garland is now preparing to join forces with Kawhi Leonard. In the interview, he expressed excitement about this new chapter.
“I’m good with the change. When it first happened, I was kind of skeptical.
But I couldn’t turn down this opportunity to play with another Hall of Famer [Leonard] and have a ball in my hands damn near 99 percent of the time,” Garland admitted.
Initially uncertain, Garland’s skepticism has turned into enthusiasm. The prospect of playing with a future Hall of Famer like Leonard and embracing a more ball-dominant role is an opportunity he’s eager to seize. Now, his focus is on returning to full health and making a significant impact in Los Angeles.