NBA Analyst Believes Darius Garland Having Bounce-Back Season ‘Can Change What’s Possible For Cavaliers’

One NBA analyst believes Darius Garland having a bounce-back season can “change what’s possible” for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The Cavaliers went 48-34 last season. They beat the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs in seven games but lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. 

Garland averaged 3.6 fewer points last season compared to 2022-23. His efficiency also decreased. 

“It was a strange and uneven season due largely to circumstances beyond Garland’s control,” Joe Wolfond of The Score wrote. “He strained his hamstring on opening night, struggled upon returning two weeks later, and then broke his jaw just when he was finally getting back on track in December. He missed six weeks, lost 12 pounds, and never looked quite right thereafter. It’s important to keep those mitigating factors in mind when evaluating Garland – who was an All-Star at 22 just two years ago – but we can still be honest about the role he played in the Cavs’ disappointing campaign.

“His handle was looser than in years past, leading to major turnover issues and an inability to create separation. He didn’t look at all comfortable driving or finishing through contact, shooting just 46% on drives after being above 50% in each of the previous two seasons. That aversion to physicality also made him more exploitable defensively, and he got hunted relentlessly on that end in the playoffs.”

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.1 blocks last season 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 San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans tried to trade for Garland this offseason, sources told Hoops Wire.

The Cavaliers were not interested in trading Garland, sources said. 

Cleveland 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. 

“If Garland can get back on his star trajectory and ascend in the way that once felt inevitable, it’ll give the team a chance to fully take flight,” Wolfond wrote.