Trade Proposal Sends Darius Garland To Lakers, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt To Cavaliers

One NBA analyst proposed a trade idea between the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World proposed the following mock trade between the Lakers and Cavaliers:

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Darius Garland

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2030 First-Round Pick

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.1 blocks for the Cavaliers in 2023-24 while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 83.4% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $36.7 million next season.

The Cavaliers drafted Garland with the fifth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 24-year-old has career averages of 18.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.1 blocks.

The Lakers are shopping Russell, who picked up his 2024-25 player option worth $18.7 million.

Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Lakers while shooting 45.6% from the field, 41.5% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free-throw line. 

Russell has career averages of 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Vanderbilt only appeared in 29 games for the Lakers this past season due to a foot injury. He averaged 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 51.8% from the field, 29.6% from beyond the arc and 66.7% from the free-throw line. The lefty will make $10.7 million next season. 

One of the best defenders in the NBA, Vanderbilt has career averages of 6.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Denver Nuggets, Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Lakers. 

The Cavaliers and Lakers haven’t added any new players to the roster this offseason via trades or free agency.

Cleveland lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games, while Los Angeles lost to Denver in the first round in five games. 

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham and hired former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers fired J.B. Bickerstaff and hired Kenny Atkinson.