The Cavs' Pick-Your-Poison Problem: Darius Garland

After rumors that Garland may ask out of Cleveland, what trade options can keep this franchise in contention?

Life comes at you fast.

A little less than two years ago, the ever-bombing insider Adrian Wojnarowski made a report that practically sang to Cleveland fans in a concert fit for the Severance Music Center. Darius Garland had agreed on a five-year, $193M maximum designated rookie contract extension that could be worth as much as $231M — the largest sum in franchise history.

Garland had just come off of his first All-Star appearance, averaging 21.7 points per game and 8 assists. Not only that, but the young guard led the Cavaliers to their first winning season since the LeBron days and gave fans a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. The future of the franchise burned bright; then Donovan Mitchell came to town, bringing extra fuel to burn.

Just two years later, reports state that Garland may look to leave Cleveland sooner rather than later in the wake of Mitchell’s extension talks. In a way, it’s a pick-your-poison sort of situation for the franchise that provides no easy answers — but I think I have one or two should things go south.

But first, a look at how we got here — playoff style.