Less than a year ago, it seemed like the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to choose between Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Cavs’ Darius Garland Considered Trade Amid Career Season
Last May, rumors began swirling about Garland’s desire to escape Mitchell’s shadow.
It was somewhat of a familiar story for the Cavs, with Kyrie Irving leaving Cleveland for a similar reason back in 2017. However, unlike Irving, the two-time All-Star has never been painted as headstrong. It was one thing for Irving to want to see whether he could lead a playoff team without LeBron James‘s help, and even that was surprising.
Garland leaving though? And because of his fit with Mitchell no less? People were stunned, especially as he and Mitchell appeared to have a good relationship.
The speculation only ended once Garland went on record saying that he wanted to stay with the Cavs.
Timing, Teammates, Turnarounds
In an interview with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Garland reveals that he really did consider asking for a trade. However, he insists that those thoughts ended quicker than you could count to 10. He also noted that his decision was impacted by the “real brotherhood” he’s built with his teammates since being drafted.
“It crossed my mind. Like just literally crossed it for like five seconds,” Garland says. “But I really love this group, man. It’s like a real brotherhood. We’ve been together for three years now, four years now, and I really want to win here.
“I think this group has the opportunity to do something special and bring a championship back to Cleveland. And that’s what I want to do.”
Money Talks
When considering why Garland would request a trade, Klutch Sports factor couldn’t be ignored. Many of the athletes signed by Klutch are in a favorable position because Rich Paul is a master negotiator. However, Paul also genuinely cares about maximizing his client’s earnings.
With that in mind, a player’s free market value is largely determined by their statistical output and contributions to winning. If Mitchell and Garland were stepping on each other’s toes, it could end up affecting their future earning power. As Garland has yet to sign his second post-rookie contract –usually considered to be a player’s most lucrative deal –that would be particularly damaging.
Nevertheless, there were stats that indicated the Garland-Mitchell pairing was better than given credit for. Furthermore, though Garland was coming off a substandard season, it was one affected by injuries and a loss in his family. Perhaps asking for a trade down the line wouldn’t have been out of the question. Had Garland’s season gotten off to a sluggish start, he might have revisited his offseason thoughts for at least another five seconds.
Yet, the timing wasn’t quite right for that move last summer.
All For One, One For All
Fast-forward to today and Garland has gotten his career right back on track.
He continues to be one of the league’s better shooters and facilitators. Yet, he’s also been more assertive, in part because of Mitchell’s unselfishness. As his confidence has grown, he’s become more effective in the clutch. Then, at the other end, he continues to play with a chip on his shoulder.
For the third time in his career, he’s averaging at least 21 points, 6 assists, and 1 steal per game. However, he’s shooting career-highs from the field (49.3 percent) and 3-point range (42.5)
His play, that of his teammates, and the offense’s evolution under Kenny Atkinson has led to the Cavs having the best record in the NBA, not just the Eastern Conference. In fact, for the first time since James was on the roster, they’re considered bonafide title-contenders. As a result, as of right now, staying in Cleveland definitely seems like it was the right choice.
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