After months of trade speculation, this offseason has seen some of the big names in the NBA changing teams, including Klay Thompson, Paul George, and DeMar DeRozan. Among these big names, Cleveland Cavaliers star Darius Garland also found himself caught up in trade rumors, prompting him to address the situation directly.
On Sunday, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com interviewed Garland in Las Vegas. During the exclusive interview, Fedor asked Garland about the ongoing rumors regarding his future in Cleveland. Garland promptly shut down the speculation.
“I don’t want to be traded. Those are just rumors,” he said.
The Cavaliers recently gave Donovan Mitchell a maximum three-year extension. It had sparked speculation that Garland’s agency might seek a trade for the star guard if Mitchell committed to a long-term deal.
However, Garland expressed his happiness about the extension and the team’s recognition of Mitchell’s value.
“It’s always good to see one of our guys get the money they deserve and know he’s going to be back with us for a while. I was excited. I was excited for him,” Garland added.
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Darius Garland Addresses His Injury Woes
Darius Garland missed 25 games last NBA season due to several injuries, with a broken jaw being the most critical. During Cleveland’s Summer League matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas on Sunday, the Cavaliers point guard opened up about his injury issues.
“It was really tough last year, just going through all the injuries like you said. Just some adversity that we all have to go through,” Garland said.
Garland described the challenges he faced during his recovery, particularly how his broken jaw limited his diet to strictly liquids.
“But it was definitely tough drinking smoothies for a month and a half, blending all types of foods, and trying to get some nutrients. There’s always some adversity, but it’s always good,” he added.
Despite his injury issues, the Cavs star delivered a strong performance for his team. According to ESPN stats, he averaged 18 points and led the team with 6.5 assists per game last season.
Also Read: Cavaliers Say a Big No to Brandon Ingram Trade, Focus on Darius Garland’s Future.
