An NBA executive believes the Cavaliers should move on from Darius Garland. Yes, really.
“I think they need to trade Darius,” the exec told Ashish Mathur of Roundtable. “That backcourt is too small with him and Donovan (Mitchell). I love the Lonzo (Ball) trade. If I were Kenny (Atkinson), I would start Lonzo, Donovan, De’Andre (Hunter), Evan (Mobley) and Jarrett (Allen) and trade Darius.
“Sacramento was interested in him before getting Dennis (Schroder) from Detroit. Maybe call them up and see if they want Darius for like Malik (Monk) and salary filler.”
Here’s the problem: Garland is coming off a career season when healthy, and Ball has played just 35 total games in the last three years. Banking on him to be the full-time starter is a massive gamble.
Garland underwent offseason surgery to repair a toe injury suffered during the 2025 playoffs and will miss the start of this season. But when he’s on the floor, he’s one of the best offensive point guards in the league.
A two-time All-Star, Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists in 75 games last year while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.1% from three and 87.8% from the line.
The Cavs haven’t advanced past the second round with the Garland-Mitchell pairing, but moving a 24-year-old All-Star point guard for “Malik Monk and salary filler” isn’t exactly a solution. Like, far from it.
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I, too, was of the opinion that Cav’s should trade Darius…. but after the year last year, he’s proven that he can play a little better on D, & Improved his overall offense too. He finally DID start doing a lot more DIFFERENT attacks instead of continually dribble, dribble, dribble, drive too late into 3 defenders, force up a prayer shot or lord forbid pass to a teammate last second with NO hope of him getting the shot off. It seems someone showed him some film high/lowlights, and he does NOT seem to do that now. ??? hope all that is finished.
I am NOT for trading him at this point & DO hope he continues to see the true light of his God given talents and selective shot taking, along with doing it all earlier in the shot clock, instead of waiting, walking the ball up court all the time expecting to surprise the already set defense.
Wait & See,,,, when the Cav’s started a couple years ago without Darius with the eye scratch in Toronto, they went 10-0 without him. Maybe they can duplicate that.
Then wait to see what he does…. More sharp defense, more sharp passing assists, more 3 balls actually falling for 3 POINTS.
Keeper for now. & definitely NOT for Monk.