The Orlando Magic are the betting favorite to land Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland.
The Cavaliers could trade Garland this offseason, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Fedor proposed that the Cavaliers trade Garland to the Magic for Jalen Suggs and Tristan Da Silva. That trade works under CBA rules.
“I understand that Jalen Suggs is not as good of a player as Darius. I understand that Jalen Suggs is not as naturally gifted or talented as Darius, but he brings a lot of stuff that this team would benefit from,” Fedor said. “He can handle. He can distribute, he can guard his butt off, he can shoot from the perimeter, he can drive, and he gives you more size, more toughness, more tenacity.”
Garland will make $39,446,090 next season, Suggs will make $35,000,000 and Da Silva will make $3,809,520.
The Cavaliers were the No. 1 seed in the East this year. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the postseason but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games.
Meanwhile, the Magic lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round in five games.
“I think the two untouchables are Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley,” Fedor said. “I have been getting the sense that the Cavs would be more willing to entertain and at least consider possibilities for Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland than they have in the past.”
The Cavaliers are projected to have $219 million in salary for the 2025-26 season and be over the second apron.
Every NBA team is trying to shed money moving forward.
“So I just think when you’re at a point that the Cavs are at with their roster the way the season ended earlier than anybody expected and with their salary cap situation, you have to start considering some of these alternatives and you have to start having very difficult conversations, conversations that are going to be painful, maybe even subtractions from the roster that are going to be painful,” Fedor said.
Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists for the Cavaliers this season in 75 games while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.1% from 3 and 87.8% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland selected Garland with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The two-time All-Star has career averages of 18.9 points and 6.7 assists.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
