CLEVELAND, Ohio — National media outlets have officially put the Cavs on notice, with The Ringer recently declaring them the “most desperate team heading into the trade deadline.” The bombshell article even proposed a specific trade that would fundamentally alter the Cavs’ identity: sending Darius Garland to the Brooklyn Nets for Michael Porter Jr.
The proposition itself speaks volumes about how the league views Cleveland right now.
After a sizzling start last season that ended with playoff disappointment, and this year’s roller-coaster performance, outsiders believe the Cavs must make drastic changes to salvage their championship ambitions.
At first glance, Porter Jr. could address several glaring needs. He brings elite shooting with size – a commodity the Cavs desperately lack.
Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist, acknowledged Porter Jr.’s potential fit: “He brings you size, he rebounds. He is an A++++ shooter with size. The kind of player that the Cavs do not have on their run. Imagine if Sam Merrill was almost 7ft tall, essentially.”
The spacing Porter would provide alongside Mitchell could transform Cleveland’s offense. Lineups featuring MPJ, Max Strus and Sam Merrill spreading defenses thin while creating driving lanes for Mitchell and operating room for Evan Mobley.
However, Watkins delivered a crucial counterpoint that gets to the heart of why this trade proposal is so complex: “I don’t like this trade for the Cavs because we are witnessing in real time how desperately the Cavs need Darius Garland to provide ball handling for them. If you take Darius Garland out of the equation, you’re missing an archetype of player that is very hard to get in return while also plugging the other holes you have on your roster.”
This reveals a fundamental truth about Cleveland’s roster construction.
As Ethan Sands, Wine and Gold Talk podcast host, emphasized: “Donovan Mitchell needs a point guard. We continuously have this conversation about potentially moving Donovan Mitchell to be the de facto point guard. Then how does that wear and tear on his body? Having to bring up the ball more, having to distribute, having to do too much.”
The Garland-for-MPJ proposal ultimately forces Cleveland to prioritize their biggest needs.
Is their greater weakness perimeter shooting and size, or reliable ball-handling and playmaking? The podcast discussion suggests the latter might be more difficult to replace.
Any Garland trade would likely necessitate additional moves, as Watkins noted: “If you were to make this trade, there would have to be another trade. That’s the thing with all these Cavs moves. In addition to them being very difficult to make, there’s no neat and tidy one for one swap.”
As the February 5th trade deadline approaches, the Cavs find themselves at a crossroads.
While The Ringer’s provocative trade suggestion might be imperfect, it highlights the growing national perception that Cleveland’s current configuration has reached its ceiling.
The Wine & Gold Talk podcast’s breakdown of this proposed deal offers crucial insight into Cleveland’s complex roster situation. For the full discussion about this potential trade and more analysis about the Cavaliers’ midseason challenges, be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast.
Here’s the podcast for this week: