Source: Pelicans, Spurs Tried To Trade For Cavaliers’ Darius Garland

The New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs tried to trade for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland this offseason, an NBA source told Hoops Wire. 

The Cavaliers told the Pelicans and Spurs they weren’t trading Garland, the source said. 

The Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks after speaking to the Cavaliers, while the Spurs signed Chris Paul after the NBA legend was waived by the Golden State Warriors. 

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.

Cleveland drafted Garland with the fifth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 24-year-old, represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, has career averages of 18.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.1 blocks. 

Garland was recently named the Cavaliers’ biggest “x-factor” by an NBA analyst. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report believes Garland has to play well for Cleveland to make noise next season. 

“A series of injuries knocked Garland’s season off track right away, with the most significant being the broken jaw he suffered in mid-December,” Hughes wrote. “That one cost Garland nearly six weeks and several pounds, as part of the recovery process involved having his jaw wired shut. Upon returning, the point guard was never quite the same.

“Garland’s individual production was down across the board—points, assists, three-point shooting, even free-throw attempt rate. That contributed to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense slipping from seventh in 2022-23 to 18th last season, and it limited the team’s top four players—Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen—to just 819 total possessions together, about half as many as the year before.”

When Mitchell signed his extension with the Cavaliers, he told the front office to keep Garland and Allen, sources said. Mitchell, one of the best players in the NBA, signed a three-year, $150 million extension with Cleveland. 

Meanwhile, Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension with the Cavaliers.