Cavs' Garland: 'I don't want to be traded'
Darius Garland denied reports that he wants to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I don't want to be traded," he told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com at Summer League on Sunday. "Those are just rumors."
After the team's elimination in the second round to the Boston Celtics in May, it was reported that Garland's agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, would engage Cavaliers officials to find a trade for Garland if backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell were to sign a long-term extension, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd.
The Cavaliers penned Mitchell to a three-year, $153-million extension in July. Garland said he was happy for his teammate when the news broke.
"It's always good to see one of our guys get the money they deserve and know he's going to be back with us for a while. I was excited. I was excited for him," Garland said.
Garland had a down year, averaging 18 points and 6.5 assists in 57 games. He missed time due to lower-body, thumb, and jaw injuries.
The franchise is set to run back the same roster but replaced J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson as head coach. The Cavs finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record last season.