The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the 2024-25 season with a new head coach and a new face.
Kenny Atkinson is stepping in for J.B. Bickerstaff, who is now the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, a division rival. Then there’s 2024 No. 20 pick Jaylon Tyson, who may end up being 2020 No. 5 pick Isaac Okoro’s replacement. However, the Cavs are making a run at Brooklyn Nets forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, who will be more trusted as established players. To complete the deal, they may need to utilize Okoro in a sign-and-trade transaction.
What has not changed is their core.
Evan Mobley is on the verge of signing a $224 million max rookie contract extension. Jarrett Allen is being vouched for by team leader Donovan Mitchell, who recently signed a three-year contract extension. Meanwhile, Darius Garland insists that he doesn’t “want to be traded” and that “those are just rumors,” per cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
Cavs’ Darius Garland Directly Addresses Pesky Trade Rumors
Garland’s recent interview must have sounded like music to Koby Altman’s ears. To be frank, if the rumors surrounding Garland were much ado about nothing, he didn’t seem to be in on the joke.
In mid-May, The Athletic reported that Garland could request a trade if Mitchell signed a contract extension. The next week, Altman fervently stated his belief in the backcourt pairing. He wasn’t just doing this just to prop up the team’s electrifying stars. Rather, he was explaining why he wasn’t ready to split them up.
As Garland’s own agent had the opportunity to shoot down the rumors and didn’t, who could blame him?
On the same day that Altman had a presser about keeping the backcourt duo together, the characteristically coy and cryptic Rich Paul said, “there is not much to say… As of now, there’s nothing to discuss on that.”
Rumors or Reality?
A man who professes to be blunt and direct, Paul didn’t say Garland doesn’t want to be traded. He didn’t say that those were just rumors. Truthfully, due the connection between NBA insider Shams Charania has with Klutch Sports, they probably weren’t. In fact, The Athletic was reporting more from Klutch Sports’ perspective than Garland’s.
As a result, the most logical inference is that Paul is the one who suggested he’d ask Garland to be moved if Mitchell returned.
Notably, there’s never been rumors of a rift between Mitchell and Garland. However, Garland is coming off of an underwhelming season that was affected by him sharing ball-handling duties with Mitchell. Even more to the point, Mitchell casts a shadow that dims Garland’s light.
It’s not inescapable. Nonetheless, it’s real, and could have a legitimate impact on his free market value. To that point, just consider Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson, and Buddy Hield, marquee free agents who had to pull teeth to get long-term contracts.
Garland is a promising player who fits the modern NBA, but he’s not quite a star. If he has another substandard season, it’ll be that much harder for him to break into that stratosphere. Again, that doesn’t just affect superficial things like his follower count, but his future earning potential as well.
That being said, the situation will become more clear by next offseason. If Garland bounces back, all will be well in The Land. If Garland doesn’t, he and Altman may have to reconsider their position.
