Cavs’ Darius Garland On Offseason Trade Rumors: ‘Definitely False’

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Remember those summer rumors that insisted Darius Garland would demand a trade from the Cavaliers if Donovan Mitchell signed a contract extension?

Well, Mitchell signed that extension. And guess who’s still on the team with him?

“I told [Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman] I wanted to be here,” Garland told reporters. “I really don’t know [where the rumor came from]. It came out and it was definitely false.”

Garland and Mitchell are actually pretty tight. Everyone can remember last season, when Garland was struggling during a playoff game, and Mitchell came to the bench, put his arm around Garland, and gave him a pep talk during a timeout.

Garland had a rocky year last season. The Cavaliers hope and even expect that to change under new coach Kenny Atkinson. They are confident no less than Mitchell can help Garland get back to the All-Star level point guard he once was.

As for Garland, it’s pretty clear he is happy that Mitchell signed the extension and is under contract for the next three seasons, with an option for a fourth.

“We’ve been together three years and we’ve made a jump every year,” Garland said. “A lot of people don’t see what we have outside of the court, we have a real relationship off the court… that’s my brother.”

The Cavs tipped off training camp on Tuesday at IMG Academy in Florida with largely the same cast as last season. They won 48 games and some projections have them doing even better this year.

If so, a big part would undoubtedly come down to the on-court production of Garland and Mitchell.