Report: If Cavaliers Trade Darius Garland, It Likely Won’t Happen This Season

If the Cleveland Cavaliers trade Darius Garland, it likely won’t happen this NBA season. 

“Waiting until next summer buys the Cavs some time to figure things out with their roster,” an NBA exec told Grant Afseth of NBA Analysis Network. “After the [draft] lottery, when teams know where they stand, Garland’s trade value could really rise.”

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.

“Darius Garland is talented, but I don’t see any obvious options right now,” one NBA exec told Afseth. “He’d help a lot of teams. It’s more about the mechanics of trades. Even teams that could—like a rebuilding team—probably doesn’t want to hurt their odds for the first pick. It’s a loaded draft this year and making a trade like this doesn’t make sense timing-wise. That makes a lot more sense to do next summer.”

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. 

“Teams trying to win now are either limited by the second apron or short on assets, so they’re not in a position to make a big move for [Garland] right now either,” one NBA exec told Afseth. 

Cleveland lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. New head coach Kenny Atkinson is looking forward to coaching Garland this season. 

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Darius,” Atkinson said. “Underrated passer. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the feel.”