‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Darius Garland, Jaylon Tyson To Magic, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony To Cavaliers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic make a trade with each other. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade:

Orlando Magic Receive: PG Darius Garland, G/F Jaylon Tyson

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Jalen Suggs, C Wendell Carter Jr., G Cole Anthony

The Cavaliers defeated the Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games.

Cleveland then lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round in five games. 

“The Magic got better this summer by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from the Denver Nuggets, yet they still didn’t solve the franchise’s No. 1 issue,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “This team needs a true point guard, someone who can orchestrate the offense, set the table for others and still be able to shoot. As Paolo Banchero told Ben Golliver of the Washington Post, ‘I would rather be more of an offensive hub than the point guard, if that makes sense.’ 

“Signing Caldwell-Pope to be the team’s starting shooting guard means Jalen Suggs will be playing point guard full-time after he averaged just 2.7 assists per game last season. After finishing 22nd in offense (112.9 rating) and 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.68), this Magic scoring attack could look clunky at times. Garland is the perfect solution, a 24-year-old who can grow with the franchise and has averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 assists and shot 38.9 percent from three over the past three seasons. A starting five of Garland, Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Banchero and Jonathan Isaac with Anthony Black, Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva, Tyson (the Cavs’ first-round pick this summer), Goga Bitadze and others would make the Magic a force in the East for the next decade.”

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.1 blocks for the Cavaliers in 2023-24. He’ll make $36.7 million next season.

The Cavaliers drafted Tyson with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists at California this past college season. 

“For the Cavaliers, Suggs would be the perfect backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell with his size (6’5″), defense and three-point shooting (39.7 percent),” Swartz wrote. “Mitchell played point guard for stretches last season with Garland out and thrived in the role. 

“Carter’s three-point shooting (37.4 percent) would allow him to play alongside both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and the Cavs can use Anthony as a sixth man behind Mitchell and Suggs. Cleveland would be deeper and better defensively with a starting five of Mitchell, Suggs, Max Strus, Mobley and Allen with Anthony, Carter, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill and others rounding out the rotation.”

Suggs averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Magic this past season. He made the All-Defensive Second Team. Suggs will make $9.2 million next season. 

Carter Jr. appeared in 55 games for the Magic in 2023-24. He averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks. Carter Jr. will make $11.9 million next season. 

Finally, Anthony averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Magic. The guard will make $12.9 million next season.