NBA Executive Says Cavaliers Should Trade Darius Garland To Kings

An anonymous NBA executive thinks it’s time for the Cavaliers to shake things up. Speaking to Heavy Sports, the exec said Cleveland should trade Darius Garland, arguing that the backcourt pairing of Garland and Donovan Mitchell is “too small” to succeed long-term. He also floated the Sacramento Kings as a possible trade partner, suggesting a deal involving Malik Monk could make sense for both sides. “I think they need to trade Darius,” the executive said. “That backcourt is too small with him and Donovan (Mitchell). I love the Lonzo (Ball) trade. If I were Kenny (Atkinson), I would start Lonzo, Donovan, De’Andre (Hunter), Evan (Mobley), and Jarrett (Allen), and trade Darius. Sacramento was interested in him before getting Dennis (Schroder) from Detroit. Maybe call them up and see if they want Darius for like Malik (Monk) and salary filler.” The Cavaliers finished first in the East last season, going 64-18 with a 34-7 record at home. With Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers were stacked with talent and well-balanced on both ends of the floor. They were among the favorites to make the Finals before being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the second round. For his part, Darius Garland played well with averages of 20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 47.2% shooting. He started 75 games for the Cavaliers and made the All-Star team for the second time in his career at 25 years old. As an elite scorer and premium ball handler, he played a major role in the Cavaliers’ top-ranked offense but his contributions were not always positive. Defensively, the Garland-Mitchell duo is far too small to keep up with modern NBA offenses. If they could swap Garland for someone like Lonzo Ball, they could match up better against the NBA’s best backcourts, and elevate their defense to match teams like the Magic, Celtics, and Minnesota Timberwolves. One alternative option is Kings guard Malik Monk. While he’s no defensive star, what he brings as a scorer and playmaker could be the spark Cleveland needs to reach the next level. At 6’3″, he’s taller than Mitchell and also quicker on his feet with amazing athleticism. In 2024-25, he averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 43.9% shooting. At 27 years old, he’s just entering his prime and brings the kind of game that the Cavaliers can use. Alongside Donovan Mitchell, he can form a dangerous and effective combo to run the offense while their star-studded frontcourt holds down the fort defensively. For now, only time will tell how the Cavaliers fare this season but they are desperate to turn the tide after back-to-back early playoff exits. With a stacked and experienced roster, they have no excuses for failure and if things don’t go their way, major moves could be in store that go beyond just Darius Garland.