The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ season came to an end on Wednesday as they were defeated 113-98 by the Boston Celtics. As their focus turns to the offseason, much of the attention will be on the future of Donovan Mitchell. His decision could have a ripple effect, according to Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. The trio shared that Darius Garland could ask for a trade if the five-time All-Star remains in Cleveland, writing:
Rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other. Should Mitchell decide to stay long term, sources briefed on the matter say Garland’s representation, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, would have a conversation with Cavs officials on potentially finding a new home for the one-time All-Star. [The Athletic]
While Mitchell remains under contract next season, he holds a player option for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible to sign a four-year, $208.5 million contract extension this offseason. If he opts not to sign a long-term deal, he could be on the move as Cleveland looks to recoup some of the value they traded to acquire him from the Utah Jazz.
If Mitchell does choose to remain with the Cavaliers, Garland could be available this summer. The fifth-year guard is owed $163.2 million over the next four seasons.
Darius Garland struggles as the Cleveland Cavaliers season comes to an end
The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday. They fell 113-98 in Game 5 of their second-round series against the Boston Celtics. The loss was not much of a surprise as the Cavaliers – who played the entire series without Jarrett Allen – did not have Donovan Mitchell for the second consecutive game.
After scoring 30 points in Game 4, Darius Garland had a forgettable performance with Cleveland’s season on the line. The one-time All-Star finished with 11 points, nine assists and two steals. He shot just 4-17 from the field and 0-4 from three-point range, while knocking down all three of his free throws.
It is unclear what Garland’s market will look like – if his camp asks for a trade – after a rough postseason. He averaged just 15.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks per game on 42.7/35.2/81.0% shooting splits. His age, 24, and success prior to Mitchell’s arrive will likely offset some of the concerns teams may have about a potential trade.
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