While the Cleveland Cavaliers have continued to shut down trade inquiries on star guard Darius Garland, the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly keeping tabs on the seven-year veteran, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Kings, Timberwolves Eyeing Darius Garland
League sources say the Timberwolves remain in the market for a lead ball-handler. However, it would be a tall order for either the Wolves or Kings to put together an appealing trade package for the Cavs.
Afseth noted that rival teams believe Garland may prefer to “run his own team” rather than serve in a “more complementary role” playing alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
Per Afseth, opposing teams view Garland as one of the lowest-risk, high-profile point guards (Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young) who have been mentioned in trade rumors around the league this season.
“Darius is the safest option on the trade market for a team seeking a point guard upgrade,” a source told Afseth. “There are teams who think he can handle more being put on his plate.”
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley Are Off Limits
Teams across the league are still interested in Cleveland’s star players.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Dec. 18 that the Cavaliers have been getting “a ton of incoming calls from on their players” ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“When I talk to rival teams, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are really the two untouchable players on this roster,” Charania said while on NBA Today.
This could mean every other Cavs player is expendable. The next month will determine how aggressive Cleveland is ahead of the trade deadline, per Charania.
If not Garland ($39.4 million), the team could be shopping DeAndre Hunter ($24 million), Max Strus ($16 million), Dean Wade ($6.6 million), Jarrett Allen ($20 million), or Lonzo Ball ($10 million).
Garland Reinjured Toe This Season
Garland, 25, missed the first seven games of the season following offseason toe surgery but aggravated the turf toe injury shortly after he returned to action, causing him to miss five more contests.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Garland has been frustrated by the lingering injury, but the former first-round pick thinks he could be finally returning to form.
“I’m getting healthy,” Garland said. “Trying to find my groove. … It’s trying to switch my mind to letting me actually do the things I’m used to doing. It felt good for the first time a couple games ago and tonight see the result.”
Through 14 appearances (all starts) this campaign, Garland is averaging 17.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 30.3 minutes per outing while shooting a career-worst 39.5% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point territory.
In Cleveland’s 136-125 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 19, he recorded a season-high 35 points on 13-for-27 (48.1%) shooting from the floor and 6-of-12 (50%) from beyond the arc.
Garland was one of four NBA players last season to average 20 points, five assists, and shoot at least 39% from deep. He led all players in plus-minus in clutch time as well.
