As the Cleveland Cavaliers enter a pivotal offseason, league sources suggest a trade sending Darius Garland to the Orlando Magic remains improbable.
Amid growing buzz around the All-Star guard’s future, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that no meaningful discussions have occurred between the two front offices.
“For all the noise these days around Darius Garland in Cleveland, we’ve been reliably told that the Cavaliers and Magic have not held substantive conversations on a Garland deal,” Fischer wrote on Marc Stein’s Substack.
He added that the Cavaliers have “little interest in helping Orlando improve its standing in the Eastern Conference.”
The Magic finished 41–41 and earned the No. 7 seed this past season, while the Cavaliers led the East with a 64–18 record before falling to Indiana in the second round.
Cleveland’s interest in reshaping its roster is tied to new salary cap restrictions, as the franchise sits $15 million above the second luxury tax apron.
Though Garland is no longer considered untouchable, the Cavaliers are not actively shopping the 25-year-old guard, according to Brian Windhorst.
Windhorst said Cleveland is “listening to offers,” but would only move Garland under the right conditions.
Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists in the 2024–25 campaign, connecting on 40.1% of his three-point attempts.
He is under contract through 2028, entering the fourth year of a five-year, $197 million extension signed in 2022.
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are viewed internally as franchise cornerstones, making Garland and center Jarrett Allen the more likely trade chips if Cleveland opts for change.
