Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman took down trade rumors surrounding Cavs guard Darius Garland during a Friday media availability, wrote Right Down Euclid Editor-in-Chief Evan Dammarell.
“#Cavs POBO Koby Altman says the rumors about Darius Garland being available in trade talks is, ‘one of the craziest rumors I’ve heard in my entire life,'” Dammarell wrote in a Friday tweet.
Garland finished last season with averages of 21.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. The 23-year-old guard hit a career-high 41% of his tries from the 3-point line, highlighted by a 51-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves that saw him hit 10 of his 15 attempts from long range. He nearly matched his averages from when he first earned a spot on the All-Star team despite Cleveland trading for All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell, leading the team in assists per game while taking second place in points per game.
The former Vanderbilt guard signed a five-year, $193 million contract extension with the Cavs in 2022. He would earn his first All-Star selection during the 2021-22 season after he registered career highs in multiple categories.
“Darius has proven to be a tremendous basketball player and someone who embodies everything a franchise would want in a young player,” Altman said in 2022, via NBA.com. “We’ve quickly seen Darius grow into an NBA All-Star and an integral core piece in our pursuit of sustainable success.
“Both on and off the court, Darius has demonstrated a strong commitment to this organization and the community. We look forward to our future and what we can accomplish here in Cleveland.”
The Cavs surrounded Garland, Mitchell, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen with players who addressed their need for more shooting off the bench. Along with bringing back guard Caris LeVert, the Cavs brought former Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang and Miami Heat guard Max Strus aboard during the start of the NBA’s free agency period.