The Sacramento Kings are very interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, sources told Cavaliers Nation.
However, the Cavaliers continue to tell the Kings that they don’t want to trade the two-time All-Star, sources said.
The Kings have been interested in Garland ever since they traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs last season. Sacramento attempted to trade for Garland this past offseason, but Cleveland rejected the trade inquiries, sources said.
The Kings, who have the second-worst record in the Western Conference, are looking for a lead guard after trading Fox.
Although the Cavaliers have gotten off to a poor start this season, president of basketball operations Koby Altman has no interest in trading Garland or center Jarrett Allen, sources said. Cleveland’s “Core 4” of Garland, Allen, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley is expected to remain intact for the rest of the season.
Garland has appeared in 17 games this season after undergoing offseason toe surgery. He’s averaging 17.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and 87.7 percent from the free-throw line.
The Cavaliers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs with Mitchell, Mobley, Garland and Allen leading the way. The Wine and Gold had the top record in the Eastern Conference last season, but Kenny Atkinson’s group lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games after sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round.
Garland has spent his entire NBA career with the Cavaliers. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t stop Cleveland from trading him, but there is no indication that the Cavaliers want to part ways with the Vanderbilt product, sources said.
The 25-year-old Garland is making $39.4 million this season. He’s due to make $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million during the 2027-28 season, the final year of his contract.