Following a disappointing 2023/24 season in which he dealt with a major jaw injury and the death of his grandmother, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland entered this fall intent on having a bounce-back year. So far, so good, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story.
The sample size is small, but through four games (all Cavaliers wins), Garland has been red hot, averaging 19.3 points per game on .547/.500/1.000 shooting. Monday’s performance in New York was his best game yet this season, as he poured in 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting in a six-point win over the Knicks. He also came up big on defense, with two steals and a pair of blocked shots.
As Fedor details, there was plenty of speculation in the spring and summer that the Cavaliers might look to trade Garland in order to balance the roster, but Donovan Mitchell has always believed in his backcourt mate and was confident in Garland’s ability to regain his All-Star form this season.
“I’m happy for him because he went through a lot of BS last year,” Mitchell said. “You have to learn from it, and you have to grow. Sometimes it’s going to suck, and I think he felt that. It’s a four-game sample, but I have no doubt that’s who he is going to be for us this season. That’s who he was when he was drafted. That’s who he was when he was an All-Star. I know what type of player he is. I know we can fit together. You’re seeing it.
“This is probably the best four games that we have continually put together. That is going to continue because we are going to continue to believe in what we can do. There is a confidence about him this year.”
Here’s more from around the Central:
- New head coach Kenny Atkinson is having a positive early impact on the 4-0 Cavaliers, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “You feel (Atkinson’s presence), you see it in the group,” Mitchell said. “Just the motion of the offense. You can tell it’s already different.” Garland agreed, adding that Atkinson is “really good for us” and gives the Cavs’ stars “a lot of freedom” on offense.
- Returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the last month-plus of the 2023/24 regular season and all of the postseason, Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin has seen his playing time decline in every game since he logged 28 minutes in the team’s opener last Wednesday. As Alex Golden of Setting the Pace tweets, head coach Rick Carlisle cited rebounding and defense as reasons why Mathurin only played 14 minutes in Monday’s loss to Orlando, adding during an appearance on 107.5 FM in Indiana that there are only so many bench minutes to go around. “(Ben) Sheppard ended up getting more of the minutes than Mathurin and (Jarace) Walker (on Monday),” Carlisle said. “It’s just kind of part of this whole thing. Mathurin is obviously a very important guy and he scored the ball well in the first two games, but this not only about scoring.”
- Veteran center Nikola Vucevic is off to a strong start this season for the Bulls, averaging 20.8 points per game on .517/.424/.909 shooting through four outings. If Vucevic’s strong play continues, it could boost his value ahead of February’s trade deadline, but he continues to insist he’s not thinking about the possibility of being dealt, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “I see and hear the rumors. People in my life talk to me about it, but I don’t get involved in it too much,” Vucevic said. “I suppose if something were to happen or get more serious, they would come to me, talk to me, but at this moment I don’t think about it.”
Hoping Vucevic is around the 20 PPG 12 RPG mark by February and they can flip him for a controllable young asset in the future. Currently speaking, I can’t come up with a trade involving Vucevic for a younger player. Hopefully that will change.
In other Bulls news: Buzelis got 3 minutes of playing time thus far, and has 24 in 4 games. It’s time to fire Billy Donovan. Inexcusable.
Jalen Smith looks like a great addition/signing so far. Been contributing off the bench. I’d like him to crash the boards a bit more but really the only gripe I have with him.
Smith has shown that he deserves the starting role. Best they get for Vooch is an expiring, maybe injured, player and a better balance sheet in 2025.
If the Bulls can maneuver the exit of Nikola, Lavine, Torrey Craig, and Jevon Carter, for any assets at all they will have done their job. Duarte might recoup some young prospect from a contender. At that point they are will situated to get a star from this draft and be decent in 2 or 3 years. Any other course of action is malpractice and should result in firing, but this is a Reinsdorf team, so expect the opposite.
Agreed on everything you said. Jerry won’t likely trade anyone since he’s launching a stupid new channel and blacking out the entire season if his demands are not met. I refuse to give him any money until he is gone from this planet.
I don’t think they trade Lavine just yet. I think they might make the trade in the offseason. He still sells jerseys and is the “face” of the franchise. Recoup his trade value and let him get his buckets and get him out the door in July/August 2025 is my prediction.
Always said Garland was their best PG.
He looks incredible right now. Owned the Knicks.
I know it’s early. But he just looks in control. His instincts are phenomenal. Yes he was hot. Yeah , you have to know that and own it. Watching Mitchell on the bench watching Garland torch the Knicks. Really taught me something. This Cavs team is coming together. Growing up.
I said it early on. Do not forget about Cavs. They got my attention. So happy for Garland. Dare I say it !!!
Looked like AI against Knicks …….
All Bulls need to do. Is play Zach. He’ll do the rest.
Vucevic, Ball (expiring), LaVine. Move them for younger talent. And load up for a deep 2025 draft.
Bulls can be back sooner than you think.