Statistically, Cavaliers rookie Darius Garland is the NBA’s worst player this season, but Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com believes it’s too early to write him off as a draft bust. The No. 5 pick ranks last in Win Shares, Value Over Replacement Player and ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus and was outshined by several players who were drafted much later.
However, Fedor notes that first-year guards on poor teams usually need time to grow into their games. Teammate Collin Sexton faced similar criticism during his rookie season, but showed significant improvement this year. Garland just turned 20 in January, and his college career was limited to four full games because of a knee injury. He had another procedure on the knee during the offseason that forced him to miss Summer League, then had a foot injury in training camp.
“The world is not patient. You guys are not patient,” Tristan Thompson said. “Lose 10 games in a row you think the season is ending. Everyone is like that. Everyone wants instant results. But life is not like that, especially in a team sport. … It’s a learning curve for everyone and as long as you handle your job and do what you’ve got to do every day the rest will follow and we’ll see.”
There’s more from Cleveland:
- The Cavs won’t have to make a long-term decision on the future of the Sexton-Garland backcourt until next summer, Fedor writes in a separate story. That’s when Sexton will be eligible for a rookie scale extension that would involve a significant financial investment. In the meantime, Fedor suggests Sexton, Garland and rookie Kevin Porter Jr. could all see starter’s minutes as Cleveland evaluates its young talent.
- The front office remains split on this year’s best prospect, but LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman are at the top of the Cavaliers’ draft board, Fedor adds in the same piece. If the team doesn’t finish high enough in the lottery to get one of them, Israeli forward Deni Avdija could be the pick because he fills a need. GM Koby Altman and scouting director Brandon Weems both traveled overseas to watch Avdija play, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has several former players who have been teammates with Avdija.
- Jason Lloyd of The Athletic examines how Kevin Love emerged as the NBA’s leading spokesman on mental health issues. Love’s newest cause is calling attention to the lack of diverse therapists available to minorities.
Having to wait so long, and in limbo, the abandoned eight has it harder than any non-playoff group in NBA history. Ideally they should have been allowed to make their draft picks. That would be hard to pull off though, and not a priority of the league office.
The league average height is 6’7″
Both Sexton and Garland can’t play defense because they both listed at 6’2″
Cavs need a pass first point guard
Draft idea
Draft Ball Jr
Trade idea
Trade for Ball Sr
Trade both Sexton and Garland for Ball Sr
LaVar Ball to the Cavs, your full of great ideas.
Love how because someone is only 6’2 they automatically can’t defend in your head also
What a dumb comment, league average height is 6’7” and two PG/Combo guards are 6’2” so they can’t play defense. Eric Bledsoe was the first team all NBA defensive PG last year and he stands 6’1”. Marcus Smart was the SG and he’s 6’3”.
I’m not sure whether you’re serious with your posts or not, but regardless they’re just getting annoying.
Clarification
Lonzo Bakl, not LaVar Ball
One of the reasons they can’t play defense is 6’2”
Muggsy Bogues was 5’3″ tall and was one of the best defenders of his generation. Defense has little to do with height.
Gee, it’s almost as if a guy that only played 4 NCAA games wasn’t ready for the NBA.
Cavs should trade Darius Garland for Mikal Bridges from the Suns.
Garland could play behind Rubio who helps him improve as a passer and can learn off Booker how to score better and eventually grow into a role with more minutes and grow a partnership with Booker. At SF they already have Oubre and Johnson so Bridges as a third SF isn’t a big mess but having a good back up PG would be a nice move.
For the Cavs Bridges would help a lot defensively which is one thing they need. Bridges is also a efficient shooting the ball with limited looks. He’s not a go to guy at all but he makes the right decisions when shooting.
Cavs should move Garland. But they have to build his value first. Cavs are another team that should go full rebuild. Let Thompson go. Have a good draft. Get ready to move Drummond and Love during season. Next yrs draft is suppose to be deep and talented. Tell you what. Drummond on Warriors for (Wiggins) gets them a ring next yr. And Drummond May sign for reasonable contract to stay. Warriors would be Team to beat for next 4 yrs. Remember they could draft Edwards now. Cavs could luck out with Wiseman. Now wouldn’t this make the world right…….
There can’t be everyone young. For them all to grow best.