Darius Garland‘s future with the Cleveland Cavaliers continues to be a point of discussion. The All-Star guard is widely seen as one of the team’s most tradable assets.
In a recent article from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers insider proposed a trade that would send Garland to the Orlando Magic. The proposed trade looks like this:
Magic Get: Darius Garland
Cavaliers Get: Jalen Suggs and Tristan Da Silva
“One of the primary questions about Garland’s playoff viability centers on his defensive limitations and how much those become magnified sharing the backcourt with “undersized” Donovan Mitchell,” Fedor wrote. “…Suggs is not more talented. He doesn’t have a pair of All-Star appearances on his resume, h isn’t the same level playmaker, distributor or scorer, and he has offensive shortcomings and injury concerns..It isn’t hard to see him fitting on this Cleveland roster and surviving — probably thriving — in a playoff environment.”
Suggs would add some much-needed perimeter defense next to Donovan Mitchell. It would also remove the question marks over who is the primary ball-handler for the franchise. Suggs would fit into a very clear role, and would likely thrive because of it.
Of course, the Cavaliers could choose to run things back with Garland. However, his defensive limitations are clearly a reason why he’s become such a topic this summer.
Garland Recently Underwent Surgery
According to a June 9 report from ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, Garland recently underwent surgery on the toe injury that hampered his postseason.
“Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland had surgery Monday to repair the left big toe injury that troubled him during the playoffs and is expected to miss four to five months,” Charania and Windhorst reported. “…The procedure was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in consultation with Cavaliers team doctor James Rosneck of the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Bob Anderson of OrthoCarolina.”
Garland’s injury could undoubtedly impact his trade value this summer. Furthermore, teams may be unwilling to enter into discussions until he’s complete the rehab phase. Still, the Magic need a point guard, and they will struggle to find a better option than Garland.
Cavaliers Should be “Open Minded” Over Garland
Brian Windhorst told ESPN radio on Thursday, June 5, that the Cavaliers will be “open-minded” regarding the guard’s future.
“The message was very hard out there. Koby [Altman] was on the record, I’m pretty sure, saying, ‘We’re not trading Darius Garland,’” Windhorst said. “A year later, I think there’s some belief that Darius Garland might be available under the right circumstances…I don’t think Darius Garland wants to go anywhere. I think Darius Garland is very happy with how things have developed in Cleveland, and he really likes it. He likes the role that he’s got.”
Given the Cavaliers’ second-round exit in the playoffs, Koby Altman will undoubtedly explore opportunities to upgrade the current roster. The roster is clearly one or two pieces away from contending. Unfortunately for Garland, that could mean his time with the Cavaliers is drawing to a close. Only time will tell.
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