The Cavaliers have signed All-Star point guard Darius Garland to a multi-year contract extension, president of basketball operations Koby Altman announced in a press release.
“Darius has proven to be a tremendous basketball player and someone who embodies everything a franchise would want in a young player,” Altman said. “We’ve quickly seen Darius grow into an NBA All-Star and an integral core piece in our pursuit of sustainable success.
“Both on and off the court, Darius has demonstrated a strong commitment to this organization and the community. We look forward to our future and what we can accomplish here in Cleveland.”
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Garland’s new deal is for five years and the rookie maximum of $193 million. That makes it the largest contract in the history of the franchise.
After struggling with inconsistency and injuries in his first two seasons, Garland had a breakout year, averaging career-highs of 21.7 points and 8.6 assists, while shooting a career-best 46 percent from the field.
He is among the biggest reasons the Cavs have high hopes after finishing 44-38 and with the eighth-best record in the Eastern Conference — joining the likes of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen and restricted free agent Collin Sexton. None are older than the age of 25.
Garland’s deal is the same as Ja Morant, the Grizzlies’ guard who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Garland was drafted No. 5 overall that year.
As relayed by NBA.com: “Garland’s extension begins in the 2023-24 season and, for now, would see him making just over $33 million in the first year and escalating to $44 million in 2027-28. If he makes an All-NBA team this coming season — meaning he would have to be selected as one of the top six guards in the league, unless the league changes its voting structure before then — the numbers get even bigger, going from ‘max’ to ‘supermax.'”
Garland’s father, Winston Garland, played in the NBA from 1987-95 with five different teams. Ironically, Winston Garland was a huge problem for Cleveland State as a guard at Southwest Missouri State back in the old AMCU-8 conference.
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Good for DG not good for CLE.
But since they are going to overpay their core,I think the Cavs would be wise to pay Sexton more than the current market dictates because it is obvious the market will be much much more Sexton favorable and Cavs unfavorable next offseason after he is healthy. No way he signs for what the market is suggesting right now coming off injury , got to pay him based on future just like they did with DG, who didn’t prove to be worth a supermax at all yet, even though that is the obvious expectation and the hope of this Cavs front office. Only way Sexton isn’t worth the same kind of payday, is because he is not the same level of playmaker as a secondary ball handler. DG is not the same level of scorer as the primary ball handler to Sexton though, so what is the difference? There isn’t one.
Neither is worth a supermax imo ,so them giving DG one prematurely means Sexton should have easily got more than the market is claiming he is worth coming off injury, just like DG would probably have when the market for him had been established at far more reasonable less than super max next summer had he hit RFA
Cavs give DG this but let Sexton walk they deserve DG getting a injury that kills their rebuild