The Cleveland Cavaliers still have some work to do this offseason. They only have 12 players under contract and Isaac Okoro remains a restricted free agent. Salary cap space has dried up, so Okoro should be back. The Cavs extended Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley this offseason and I plan to bring him back with their core group after two consecutive playoff appearances.
Their roster is a bit confusing. Cleveland has two star small guards and two big men who don’t shoot. Last season, they added Max Strus to improve their floor spacing, but the Cavaliers don’t have a true 3-and-D wing on their roster. Things could get complicated on both ends, and that could ultimately prevent the franchise from becoming a serious title contender.
Darius Garland was an All-Star in 2022 and seemed poised to become a superstar, but he has taken a step back since Donovan Mitchell arrived. The Cavaliers lost two straight games in the 2022 play-in tournament and traded for Mitchell because they were on the rise. Cleveland is in a better position to win, but that put Garland in a tough spot.
The fifth overall pick in the 2019 season averaged 21.7 points, 8.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35.7 minutes per game in his third NBA season. He was just 22 years old and had a 2.8 Value Over Replacement Players (VORP), which ranked 28th in the NBA ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards.
Most people would expect the addition of Mitchell to limit Garland’s ball-handling ability but improve his scoring efficiency. Instead, he shot 46.2 percent from the field in 2022 and just 44.6 percent last season. His shooting regimen has changed. Garland is getting to the basket less often in part because Cleveland has two big men crowding the lane. The 6’1″ point guard has operated more from three to 10 feet and beyond the three-point line over the past two years.
His assist percentage has increased from 75% in 2022 to 91.5% over the last two seasons combined. Garland is more of a finisher than a creator in his current role. His assists are down and he is the second option behind Mitchell.
This is why the 24-year-old appeared in trade rumors this offseason. Teams remember what he did in 2022 and know he’s coming off a disappointing season. Garland can be an All-Star and lead his team to the playoffs. He just needs the opportunity to prove it.
It’s not easy being a small point guard. There are defensive issues, so his team has to maximize its offense to get the most out of Garland. That’s not going to happen in Cleveland, and it’s put him in an impossible position to showcase his immense talent.
Darius Garland is still far from his prime and could become a star again if the situation is right. Will he find it? The Cleveland Cavaliers seem determined to try again with this core group, but things can change quickly in the NBA. Stay tuned to see how this all plays out.
