The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the best teams in the NBA last season, but disappointed in the playoffs.
Instead of blowing the team up or attempting a big move, the tight-knit squad decided to run it back for the 2025 campaign. A quarter through the season, and that closeness seemingly has fractured in Ohio.
Currently seventh place in a soft Eastern Conference, the mood in the Cavaliers locker room has shifted, per reports from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team's top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.
With Donovan Mitchell looked at as the untouchable ace of the current Cavs franchise, teams are beginning to posture for what that could mean for his backcourt partner Darius Garland.
In his seventh NBA season, Garland has attended two All-Star games and been a driving force in the Cavs’ resurgence since LeBron James left for Hollywood. So far this season, though, Garland has not been at his best, averaging only 14 points — his lowest since his rookie season.
If Garland is moved, look to the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and Toronto Raptors as the most aggressive teams to acquire the $197 million guard.
As the Cavs are jostling for position in the East and more than likely don't want to aid their rivals, the Rockets appear to be a likely frontrunner if the Garland market begins to pick up with Cleveland's struggles.
Newsweek