Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers
As the Cleveland Cavaliers gear up for the 2024-25 NBA season, the franchise finds itself at a pivotal juncture. Following an impressive playoff run by Donovan Mitchell, who is now extension-eligible, the Cavs are still grappling with their star quartet’s overall postseason performance. Despite Mitchell’s individual brilliance, the team has yet to meet expectations collectively, a situation that has stirred considerable speculation.
Reports quickly surfaced suggesting that Darius Garland’s representatives at Klutch Sports would push for a trade if Mitchell stayed on, aiming to secure Garland a primary ball-handler role elsewhere. The Cavaliers, however, chose to re-sign Mitchell to a three-year max extension (with a player option in the third year) and made a significant coaching change by replacing J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson. Since then, they have largely maintained the status quo, opting to see if the new coaching staff can unlock the potential of their core four before making any drastic moves.
Amidst the swirling rumors, clarity came on Sunday. Chris Fedor of cleveland.com caught up with Garland in Las Vegas, where the former All-Star guard unequivocally dismissed any talk of a trade.
“I don’t want to be traded,” Garland told cleveland.com during an exclusive interview. “Those are just rumors.”
Garland also expressed his support for Mitchell’s extension. “It’s always good to see one of our guys get the money they deserve and know he’s going to be back with us for a while,” he said. “I was excited. I was excited for him.”
The 2023-24 season was a challenging one for Garland, who struggled to find his rhythm after suffering a broken jaw and missing significant time. However, his previous season with Mitchell was more promising, as the duo’s offensive synergy propelled the Cavs into the top half of the Eastern Conference. Despite this, their campaign ended in disappointment with a first-round playoff exit against the New York Knicks.
As the new season approaches, the Cavaliers are betting on a fresh system under Atkinson to rejuvenate their star-studded backcourt while also figuring out the optimal way to utilize Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley together in the frontcourt. The success of these adjustments will be critical. With Mitchell’s extension effectively giving the team a two-year window, any failure to gel could lead to a flurry of trade rumors by the deadline. Another early playoff exit would almost certainly prompt significant roster changes next offseason.
For now, the Cavaliers are focused on the potential within their roster, hoping that stability and a new strategic approach can transform them into true contenders.
