Darius Garland Named ‘Ideal’ Trade Target For Heat If Cavaliers Decide To Trade Him

Darius Garland has been named an “ideal” trade target for the Miami Heat by an NBA insider if the Cleveland Cavaliers decide to trade him. 

“Optimistically, if the Cavaliers decided to move Darius Garland, he would be an ideal target to join Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and whoever else the Heat choose to keep long-term,” NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote. “Miami only has one future first to offer (2030 or 2031), but Herro could be an enticing player for Cleveland or a third team.”

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 has career averages of 18.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.1 blocks. 

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

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

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

New Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has spoken highly of Garland thus far, but things could change once games are played. 

Heat star Jimmy Butler will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason if he declines his 2025-26 player option, a move he’s expected to do. 

A six-time All-Star, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 60 games last season for the Heat while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.

Butler joined the Heat in 2019. Miami lost in the 2020 Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, lost in the 2022 conference finals to the Celtics, lost in the 2023 Finals to the Denver Nuggets and lost in the first round this year to Boston.