Rumors Surface: Cleveland Cavaliers Show Minimal Enthusiasm in Dealing Darius Garland to Orlando
Spilling the Tea on Darius Garland's Trade Rumors
The Lowdown on Garland and the Magic
Rumors are swirling about Darius Garland, the standout point guard from the Cleveland Cavaliers, potentially getting traded to the Orlando Magic this offseason. But hold up, NBA insider Jake Fischer has dropped some knowledge, claiming Cleveland has shown scant interest in such a deal. Fischer spilled the beans in a piece for his outlet, saying the Cavaliers and Magic haven't held substantive conversations about a Garland swap, and Cleveland's not eager to help Orlando improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.
Garland-Suggs Swap: A Long Shot?
Reports from Cleveland.com last month hinted at a possible trade involving Garland and the Magic's fellow point guard prodigy, Jalen Suggs. But ESPN's Brian Windhorst poured cold water on the idea, stating that the trade would be a no-go, as Garland's an All-Star, while Suggs' not quite there yet. Windhorst went on to say that although Suggs is from the same class of player as Jrue Holiday and Alex Caruso, Cleveland's got no interest in him, unless there were other aspects to the deal.
Financial Hurdles
If you're thinking a Garland-Suggs trade might go down, think again. You see, the Cavaliers are up to their necks in luxury tax issues. Suggs is about to sign a hefty contract, while the Cavaliers are already $30 million over the tax and $13 million over the second apron. The De’Andre Hunter trade and extensions for Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley have them facing a massive $57 million tax penalty this season, which would be the highest in franchise history. The Cavaliers' tight financial situation means they can't aggregate contracts, use more than 100% of the traded player exception, send out cash, or sign a player waived that had a preexisting salary of $14.1 million or more.
Orlando: A Rising Rival?
Another reason the Cavs might be reluctant to deal Garland is their newfound rivalry with the Magic. The two teams have been heating things up, going the distance in a thrilling seven-game series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs' first round. With the Magic emerging as a formidable opponent in the Eastern Conference, trading Garland to them wouldn't make much sense, especially since they're on the rise and probing for ways to improve.
The List of Potential Trade Suitors
With the Magic out of the picture, for now, other teams might be eying Garland as a potential acquisition this summer. If Cleveland doesn't find a taker, they may choose to hang onto their All-Star starting point guard. Garland's got three more years left on his contract and is eligible to add two years and $128.4 million starting July 8. However, with the first or second apron triggered for the next season even if the Cavaliers violate one of their restrictions before June 30, any trade would need to be carefully navigated to avoid financial woes.
- Despite the rumors, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly not keen on a trade that would send Darius Garland to the Orlando Magic, as they are wary of helping their potential rival improve.
- The possible Garland-Suggs trade is facing financial hurdles, as the Cavaliers are already heavily burdened with luxury tax issues, making it difficult for them to accommodate the hefty contract Suggs is about to receive.
- Even if the Magic are no longer in the running for Garland, other teams might still be interested in acquiring the All-Star point guard this summer, particularly those aiming to bolster their rosters for the upcoming NBA season.
