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Unless a team finishes the season as NBA Champions, there will be fallout when the season ends. Only a few days after being eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be experiencing some fallout of their own, including with the Cavs’ starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Sources have confirmed to ClutchPoints that if Mitchell signs an extension with Cleveland this offseason, Garland and his representation would approach the Cavs regarding a possible trade. If Garland were to request a trade, then the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Brooklyn Nets are all teams worth monitoring, according to multiple league sources.
Although Cleveland doesn’t have to rush to bite on the first trade offer they get for Garland, the Cavs moving on from their franchise point guard could be inevitable.
Mind you, Garland requesting a trade doesn’t mean that Garland has a personal beef with Mitchell or is frustrated having to share a locker room with his co-star. This isn’t a situation like when Kyrie Irving was frustrated playing alongside LeBron James.
Instead, when viewed from 10,000 feet above, the on-court partnership between Garland and Mitchell has been ongoing for two years, and it may have finally reached its potential ceiling.
Sure, it’s hard to contain Mitchell and Garland defensively when both click. But there haven’t been consistent moments of on-court success with the two together, and with how asset-limited Cleveland currently is, moving on from Garland might be one of the few things they can do to become a legitimate contender.
What the Cavs should demand in a possible Darius Garland trade
When considering what the Cavs could get in a hypothetical Darius Garland trade, the possibilities are endless. But, while the Cavs could get generous offers from most teams in the NBA, especially since All-Star caliber point guards are few and far between, they have to be mindful of what they entertain.
No matter what, if Garland demands a trade, Cleveland has to look for returns that allow them to continue contending with Mitchell as the franchise’s centerpiece. So, when considering the aforementioned trio of the Spurs, Timberwolves, and Nets, what should the Cavs ask for in return for Garland?
The clear and simple answer is asked for a wing player from any of the teams, especially one with a three-point acumen and some defensive upside. Thankfully, all three have options available for Cleveland to consider.
San Antonio has Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell. Minnesota, meanwhile, has defensive dynamo Jaden McDaniels. Finally, Brooklyn could offer either of Mikal Bridges or Cameron Johnson in a hypothetical package for Garland, with Bridges being the more enticing overall option.
Regardless of what teams offer, the Cavs do have some leverage and should feel comfortable asking for as much as possible in return. Although Garland could demand a trade in the event Mitchell agrees to an extension, it doesn’t mean that Cleveland has to cave to those demands.
If the Cavs get underwhelming offers for Garland or feel that they can mend fences despite a possible trade demand, they can hold onto their franchise point guard. Again All-Star caliber point guards are few and far between and while Cleveland has to be mindful of how to navigate a possibly delicate situation, it doesn’t mean they have to rush to anything either. It’ll take time and, thankfully, the Cavs have plenty of that on their hands now that they’re deep into the offseason.
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