The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch in the 2024 NBA offseason. They've already let go of their head coach JB Bickerstaff and the changes may not stop there. Retaining and re-signing Donovan Mitchell is the utmost priority for Cleveland. However, keeping Mitchell may lead to collateral damage elsewhere on the roster. That could entail potentially trading fellow All-Star guard Darius Garland. The Minnesota Timberwolves could be a potential landing spot for Garland if the Cavaliers look to trade him according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel.
Siegel reported that the Timberwolves have long been fans of Garland dating back to the 2019 NBA Draft. Minnesota was said to have tried to move up to get Darius Garland, but couldn't get make a deal happen. They wound up with Jarrett Culver instead, who is out of the league entirely. A robust offer could finally see Minnesota land their guy. What would that offer look like?
Trade Offer
Minnesota trades Karl-Anthony Towns and a 2024 second-round pick (37th overall). Cleveland, in return, sends Darius Garland, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, a 2024 1st-round pick (20th overall), and three future second-round picks (2025, 2027, and 2029).
Why the Timberwolves do it
Minnesota has to find a point guard of the future. Mike Conley has been a godsend for that franchise ever since they flipped D'Angelo Russell for him and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, he's getting up there in age. Conley will turn 37 years old by the time next season starts.
The Timberwolves have gotten solid production from the wily veteran, but they need more scoring and playmaking pop out of him. Anthony Edwards was bombarded with help and double teams by opposing defenses because they knew Minnesota wasn't going to have much creation elsewhere on the perimeter. Conley had a usage rate of 16.5% and a 53.1% effective field goal percentage during the playoffs according to NBA.com. It's fine, but not good enough.
Minnesota needs a guard who can not only feed Edwards easy buckets but can also create his own shots. Garland is that in spades and is only 24. He'd be a great fit. Unfortunately for Minnesota, it would cost them Karl-Anthony Towns, who has seen it all during his nine seasons with the Wolves.
Towns may just be too erratic to count on in the playoffs. His play fluctuates too rapidly between series, games, and even possessions within a game. Minnesota doesn't need to ride that rollercoaster when they already have Naz Reid in tow. Reid is not the passer or shooter that Towns is, but he can replicate a lot of his production with his versatile skillset. He was the sixth man of the year this season, after all.
Minnesota built their team with an identity of being huge everywhere on the court. They'd still retain that identity even if they trade a big part of it in Towns. But the upgrade from Conley to Garland, who struggled in his own right this year after a season plagued by injury, would be worth it.
Why the Cavs do it
Cleveland pictured a dynamic backcourt who could take turns hurling shots over opponents and setting each other up when they paired Mitchell with Garland. That hasn't quite happened in the postseason yet. A year ago, the Cavs had a -3.8 net rating when those two shared the floor in the 2023 playoffs. That number didn't budge this year either.
The New York Knicks really exploited Cleveland's lack of size on the perimeter last year. That trend continued this year when the Cavs played bigger teams in the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. The Cavs could flip big man Jarrett Allen for a bigger wing or guard to pair next to Mitchell and Max Strus and then trot out a frontcourt with Towns and Evan Mobley.
That would make a lot of sense for the Cavaliers. Mobley was a breakout star in the playoffs with his rim protection at center after Allen's rib injury along with his added scoring punch. Towns can help the team on the glass after they were in the middle of the league in that department in the 2023-24 NBA season. He and Mitchell can also provide a deadly two-man game offensively.
Swapping Towns for Darius Garland would give both the Cavaliers and Timberwolves a solution for what ails their team without compromising the rest of their rosters. This trade would help both franchises. Trade talks with these two will be worth monitoring as the NBA embarks closer to the offseason.
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