Who Is Darius Garland?
Darius Garland is a point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, drafted fifth overall and recognized as one of the league’s more skilled young playmakers and shooters.[2][4] He rose to prominence with All-Star level seasons built on pull-up threes, advanced ball-handling and strong playmaking numbers.[3][4]
In recent years, Garland has averaged upward of 17–21 points and around 6–8 assists per game for Cleveland, anchoring their offense and forming a high-usage backcourt partnership with Donovan Mitchell.[3][4] His development from promising prospect to established lead guard has made him central to the Cavaliers’ identity and long-term roster planning.[3][4]
2025-26 Season: Injuries and Changing Role
The 2025-26 season has been more complicated for Garland, with his per-game production sitting around 14 points, 3 rebounds and just over 6 assists as he works through injuries and minutes limitations.[1][2][3][4] His shooting efficiency has dipped into the mid-30s from the field, a notable drop from prior campaigns in which he was a more consistent three-level scorer.[1][3]
Injury management has shaped his year, with Garland missing multiple games and going through controlled returns that included 3-on-3, 4-on-4 and limited 5-on-5 sessions in practice before re-entering the lineup.[2][4] This intermittent availability has made it difficult for him to sustain rhythm, while also forcing the Cavaliers to experiment with other ball-handlers and lineups in his absence.[2][4]
Trade Rumors and the Cavaliers’ Future
Cleveland’s rocky stretches and roster questions have pushed Garland into the center of trade speculation, with outside observers questioning whether a small, offense-first backcourt of Garland and Mitchell can anchor a deep playoff run.[1][4] As the Cavaliers evaluate how to best build around Mitchell, Garland’s combination of talent, age and contract status makes him both a core piece and a logical name in hypothetical trade packages.[1][4]
At the same time, Garland’s playmaking, shooting gravity and track record of 20-and-7 type seasons underscore how difficult it would be for Cleveland to replace his impact if he were moved.[3][4] How he performs for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign—especially his health, efficiency and fit alongside Mitchell—will heavily influence whether he remains the Cavaliers’ long-term floor general or becomes one of the most coveted trade targets in the league.[1][3][4]