Darius Garland excited for new chapter with Clippers after trade from Cavs
Darius Garland didn’t suit up for the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, but his presence on the sidelines at the Intuit Dome signaled the start of a pivotal new era for the franchise. Following a blockbuster deadline deal that sent former MVP James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Garland is ready to embrace a fresh start in Southern California after seven seasons in Ohio.
The trade, which was finalized just hours before the two teams faced off in Inglewood, sends the 26-year-old point guard and a 2026 second-round pick to Los Angeles. While the Cavaliers made the move to maximize their immediate championship window by pairing Harden with Donovan Mitchell, the Clippers seized the opportunity to get younger and faster at the point of attack.
Speaking during halftime of the Cavaliers' 124-89 rout of the Clippers, Garland expressed gratitude for his time in Cleveland while acknowledging his excitement for the future.
"It wasn't a shock," Garland said regarding the trade rumors that had circulated for weeks. "It's the business of basketball. Cleveland was great to me and my family... Seven years was a really long time, and it was great. I'm glad I'm here now. It's the next chapter in my book."
For Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, the acquisition of Garland offers a tactical shift from the methodical, isolation-heavy style of Harden. Lue, who coached the Cavaliers to a title in 2016, sees parallels between Garland and another dynamic guard he once mentored.
"He's different from James, and we can play with a faster pace," Lue told reporters. "We can play him off the ball more. It's going to be exciting. I've known DG for a while, and having a young point guard under my tutelage, I think it's the first time I have had one since Kyrie Irving."
Garland is currently recovering from a right big toe sprain that has sidelined him since mid-January, and the team has not yet set a definitive timetable for his debut. However, once cleared, the one-time All-Star is expected to inject dynamic playmaking and perimeter shooting into a Clippers lineup looking to retool on the fly. regarding the "win-now" pressure in Cleveland, Garland now finds himself with the freedom to facilitate an offense that is eager to run.
The trade, which was finalized just hours before the two teams faced off in Inglewood, sends the 26-year-old point guard and a 2026 second-round pick to Los Angeles. While the Cavaliers made the move to maximize their immediate championship window by pairing Harden with Donovan Mitchell, the Clippers seized the opportunity to get younger and faster at the point of attack.
Speaking during halftime of the Cavaliers' 124-89 rout of the Clippers, Garland expressed gratitude for his time in Cleveland while acknowledging his excitement for the future.
"It wasn't a shock," Garland said regarding the trade rumors that had circulated for weeks. "It's the business of basketball. Cleveland was great to me and my family... Seven years was a really long time, and it was great. I'm glad I'm here now. It's the next chapter in my book."
For Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, the acquisition of Garland offers a tactical shift from the methodical, isolation-heavy style of Harden. Lue, who coached the Cavaliers to a title in 2016, sees parallels between Garland and another dynamic guard he once mentored.
"He's different from James, and we can play with a faster pace," Lue told reporters. "We can play him off the ball more. It's going to be exciting. I've known DG for a while, and having a young point guard under my tutelage, I think it's the first time I have had one since Kyrie Irving."
Garland is currently recovering from a right big toe sprain that has sidelined him since mid-January, and the team has not yet set a definitive timetable for his debut. However, once cleared, the one-time All-Star is expected to inject dynamic playmaking and perimeter shooting into a Clippers lineup looking to retool on the fly. regarding the "win-now" pressure in Cleveland, Garland now finds himself with the freedom to facilitate an offense that is eager to run.
