Los Angeles Lakers could take advantage of the significant upheaval that Cleveland is experiencing quickly—J.B. Bickerstaff’s dismissal being the first domino to fall.
The Cavaliers’ premier backcourt player may be acquired by the Lakers through trade.
In the event that five-time NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell decides to stay with the Cavaliers, ESPN’s front office expert Bobby Marks proposed a trade of Darius Garland to the Lakers.
In the event that the Cavaliers decide to trade Garland, a package involving Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers may make sense. In the event that the Cavaliers decide to sell Allen, Hachimura provides depth in the frontcourt, while Reaves’ shooting abilities would complement Mitchell’s, according to Marks.
The Athletic revealed on May 15 that if Mitchell agrees to a four-year, $208.5 million contract this July, Garland might ask to be traded.
“Rival executives think the Cavs may have to make a decision between Mitchell and Garland and will need to carefully consider their fit. The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd wrote that, should Mitchell choose to remain for the long run, sources briefed on the situation say that Garland’s representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, would speak with Cavs officials about possibly finding the one-time All-Star a new home.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the two biggest players for the Lakers, are represented by Garland as well.
When Garland averaged a career-high 21.7 points and 8.6 assists in 2022, he was named an All-Star for the first time. Before Mitchell showed around, he served as the Cavaliers’ public face. The next two saw a decline in both his role and production.
