The Cleveland Cavaliers had one of the best backcourt in the NBA last year. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland often flew under the radar, but both play at an all-star level. However, after an early exit from the playoffs, rumors started to swirl that one of the players would be traded. When the team signed Mitchell to a massive deal, the Garland trade rumors only increased. However, in a recent interview, Garland shut down those rumors.
Cleveland Cavaliers Darius Garland Shuts Down Trade Rumors
The NBA Summer League is in full swing. While Darius Garland isn’t playing, he is one of many stars who are in attendance when their team plays. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com caught up with the young guard, and he was pretty clear about what he wants his future to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I don’t want to be traded. Those are just rumors.”
This is good news if you are a Cleveland Cavaliers fan. Garland is still only 24 years old with plenty of room to continue to develop his game. Last season, he averaged 18.0 points per game with 6.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. The franchise hired one of the top assistants in the league, Kenny Atkinson, to lead the team. If they can keep the elite backcourt together, this team could make some noise in the Eastern Conference.
2024-25 Outlook
The front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers has not made many moves this offseason. While signing Mitchell was a good move, they have not been active in free agency or in the trade market. This signals that the team is comfortable with the talent they have. Darius Garland isn’t the only young star on the team. Former number one overall pick Evan Mobley has also shown growth over the past few years. If he and Garland continue to improve, this team could be difficult to knock out of the playoffs.
The 76ers, Bucks, and Celtics get a majority of the spotlight. No one seems to be talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers at this point in the offseason. However, they have quietly kept their team together and are ready to make another run. The team also has some trade assets like Jarrett Allen who could provide them some flexibility during the season.
Fans love to hear about splashy free-agent signings or trades. It is one of the reasons so many people are high on the Philadelphia 76ers right now. However, keeping a team together can be just as effective. The team hopes a new voice in the locker room and another year of development is what this team needs to make it out of the Eastern Conference.
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