Darius Garland welcomed the opportunity to play more years with Donovan Mitchell and shut down rumors he wanted to be traded. [phogo: Imagn]
Shams Charania reported in May that the Cleveland Cavaliers could move Darius Garland if Donovan Mitchell signs an extension. The Cavs convinced “Spida” to stay and gave him a three-year, $150.3 million deal that will kick in starting the 2025-26 season. Despite Mitchell’s new contract, Koby Altman, the team’s president of basketball operations, kept Garland.
Some analysts doubted if Garland and Mitchell could continue to co-exist since they play best with the ball in their hands. Following an All-Star campaign, Garland’s usage and 3-point attempts have dropped since Mitchell’s arrival. Many thought he could be asking to move out of Cleveland.
Darius Garland is in Las Vegas to support the Cavaliers’ Summer League team. He had this to say about the rumors that have been hounding him since before the February trade deadline:
“I don’t want to be traded. Those are just rumors. It’s always good to see one of our guys get the money they deserve and know he’s going to be back with us for a while. I was excited. I was excited for him.”
Garland suffered a myriad of injuries this season, reasons that likely made him struggle to get a rhythm. The Cavaliers went 17-8 without him in the regular season and his points, assists and 3-point shooting efficiency dropped in the playoffs. Boston’s guards repeatedly went after him in the postseason, forcing the Cavs to make difficult decisions defensively.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell played superhuman at times in the playoffs. Despite playing through with an injured knee, he was unstoppable at times. It seemed like the Cavaliers would shift to a different strategy, particularly with the firing of former coach JB Bickerstaff.
The Cavaliers, however, aren’t giving up on Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. They will be the franchise cornerstones along with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. New coach Kenny Atkinson will try to lead them farther in the playoffs than in the past two seasons.
Kenny Atkinson is excited to work with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell
Kenny Atkinson will be the new voice on the sidelines guarding the Cleveland Cavaliers. Koby Altman moved on from JB Bickerstaff despite the team’s success over the past two years. Altman is convinced Atkinson is the right man to lead the Cavaliers with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell as the superstars.
Atkinson had this to say to Chris Fedor about the opportunity to work with the Garland-Mitchell tandem:
“Those guys are running the show and it’s such a huge position in this league. … Huge fan of Darius [Garland]. Always been a fan. Underrated. Underrated passer. I don’t think he gets enough credit for the feel. Then, Donovan [Mitchell] we all know, he’s the real deal. The great ones have a different type of work ethic. He’s wired a little bit differently.”
Cleveland Cavaliers fans can’t wait to see Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell work together again. Perhaps with Atkinson at the helm, the team will be more successful in the playoffs.
