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Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland is the Centerpiece

Riley ThomasBy Updated:4 Mins Read

Collin Sexton is coming off a career season averaging over 24 points. For many franchises, Sexton would be a centerpiece of their franchise for years to come.  However, this is not the case for the Cleveland Cavaliers as trade rumors surround Sexton. Instead, Cleveland reportedly view Darius Garland as their franchise centerpiece. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com was one of the first to suggest Garland is the franchise’s focus,

He displayed the playmaking skill set that has many within the organization believing he’s already the team’s best player.

The idea of the Cavs viewing Garland as their centerpiece rather than Sexton is interesting. Sexton has increased his point total every season and has not averaged under 16 points in a season. When comparing the two guards, Garland is clearly a better playmaking point guard. This would explain why Sexton immediately moved to shooting guard when Cleveland drafted Garland.

Improving

Garland does possess a lot of talent and potential, but is he good enough to be a franchise centerpiece? Since Garland has only played in the NBA for two seasons, his rookie season cannot be overlooked. Garland struggled the majority of his rookie year. He averaged 12.3 points, which is not that bad for a rookie. The main problem was his efficiency shooting only 40.1% from the field and 35.5% from three.

Garland did tear his ACL during his freshman season at Vanderbilt. Returning to normal after tearing an ACL is never a quick process. Garland could have not been 100% for the majority of his rookie season. The difference between his rookie and second season could be proof Garland’s recovering knee held him back. In his second season, Garland averaged 17.4 points while shooting an improved 45.1% from the floor and 39.5% from three. In addition, he also increased his assist total from 3.9 per game to 6.1 per game. Garland’s rookie season was also shortened by the COVID pandemic. Around the midseason point, Garland was starting to hit his stride and started playing at a high level.

More than likely, Garland’s improvement in his second season was a combination of recovering fully from his ACL tear and just improving as a player.

Garland as a Centerpiece

With that said, how high is Garland’s potential? He seems talented enough to eventually be an All-Star caliber player. Reaching an All-Star game once or twice versus a yearly basis is a huge difference. Can Garland play at an All-Star level for the majority of his prime years? He was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft for a reason. Garland has an innate playmaking ability as a point guard. At times, this was on full display during the 2020-21 NBA season. Some of the plays Garland made this season were just absurd, most players in the NBA could not pull these off.

Garland is a calming presence at point guard, and can set his teammates up for success. Also, his shooting stroke is sound. Garland has a lot of potential as a shooter and facilitator.

To be successful in the NBA, having a playmaking point guard is a necessity. For Cleveland, building around the playmaking Garland makes sense. If the Cavaliers have shooters and scorers to pair with Garland, their offense can eventually be fluid. For example, Jarrett Allen is great in the pick and roll game. Garland and Allen connected on many pick and roll situations this season. Garland is a great point guard that can make players around him better.

Another appealing piece of Garland’s game is his play style. Some explosive point guards in the NBA cannot work long term due to their reckless style of play. Also, explosive guards who rely on their athleticism are just not going to be as effective in their 30s. Garland plays under control, his game could allow him to play for many years in the NBA. Franchises obviously want a centerpiece that can perform for a long time. Further, the NBA has become very reliant on three-point shooting. Going forward, Garland is a good shooter and will remain effective as the NBA changes. For the Cavs, Garland just makes so much sense long term.

Overall, Garland as a centerpiece can work. He is only 21-years-old and will not turn 22 until January. Garland is on the right trajectory and can develop into an NBA superstar. At the time, selecting Garland in the 2019 NBA Draft seemed questionable. Looking back at the pick now, Cleveland may have hit the pick out of the park and could have secured a star point guard for many years to come.

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