The Cleveland Cavaliers now sit at 15-14, following a third straight loss to a team below .500. The squad they have been this year has not matched the one that went 64-18, and finished at the top of the Eastern Conference in 2024-25.
The boos have been raining down from Cavs fans over the majority of their home games in the past month, as things have gone from bad to worse.
With that continuing to happen, Brooklyn Nets fans on Reddit and X took to pitching a very unique trade, that in all likelihood, never gets done.
But, let’s look at a world where it might actually.
Brooklyn would send high-scoring forward Michael Porter Jr to Cleveland, in exchange for Darius Garland.
Garland has registered trade interest around the league, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto. Him getting moved would not be impossible.
The Cavs Move Darius Garland?
Darius Garland has had a pretty forgettable start to the season. His shooting efficiency is at an all-time low (37% FG, 32% 3PT), while his turnovers and points are both down.
With Donovan Mitchell out of the lineup on Friday night, he did deliver 35 points and eight assists. However, this marked a second-straight loss to a Chicago Bulls team that entered the home-and-home with a 4-14 mark in their previous 18 contests.
Beyond this season, Garland, a 2X All-Star, is under contract for two more years, and $86 million. With Cleveland being in the second apron, they would have to pick and choose their deals pretty carefully.
His name had been floated over the summer, but the team opted not to make any significant changes. Nets fans online have posted a potential trade, without draft picks, that would send him to Brooklyn in exchange for Michael Porter Jr.
Garland turns 26 in January, while Porter will celebrate his 28th birthday this June.
There is very much a world where Cleveland could consider trading Garland, and opting to make their lineup just a little bit taller. The return though, would likely need to feature some draft capital.
Porter would not improve the dire defensive situation, but could add a big scoring touch next to Donovan Mitchell.
Will the Nets Move Michael Porter Jr?
The Darius Garland part of the trade has been discussed, so let’s slide over to Michael Porter Jr. The veteran forward has been having a career year with the Nets to open the season.
MPJ has been averaging over 26 points per game, which is a career-best. Dishing out 3.2 assists a night after a lot of criticism about his lack of passing. Combine that with a 50% clip from the floor and 40% 3PT, and you have a serious scorer on your hands.
The question posed to the Nets, would be if they would want to actually trade their breakout star. According to ClutchPoints, they have been considering moving on from him, to try and bring more assets back.
Porter is owed $40 million next season, and could bring a few guys with matching deals back, with the Nets hoping to perhaps find a steal. If they did send him to Cleveland, hypothetically, Garland would become an instant star in Brooklyn.
Running the offense as the true point guard, they could revitalize the lob game with Nic Claxton. He could pair well with Egor Demin and Ben Saraf as the future point guard room.
The chances remain very real, even if not this direct swap though, that both teams move on from their stars.
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