Rich Paul Breaks Silence On Darius Garland’s Lakers Move As Cleveland’s Locker Room Turmoil Comes to Light

The Cleveland Cavaliers let go of their Head Coach J. B. Bickerstaff despite leading the pack to back-to-back playoff appearances. And now, in an unexpected turn of events, there have been talks of Cavs’ point guard, Darius Garland, potentially moving to the Los Angeles Lakers. News of locker room trouble at Cleveland has been traveling fast and rumors say that Garland wishes to leave. At such a time, his agent Rich Paul addressed the developments in an interview with the Bleacher Report.

Rumor on the block is that Garland wishes to leave because of teammate Donovan Mitchell. The player finds it hard to find his own pace with another ball-dominant player on the roster.

This isn’t the first time that comments about the Cavs’ locker room situation have been made. The Cavaliers’ choice to fire their head coach has revealed deeper issues within the team. In an episode of Run It Back, former NBA player Chandler Parsons asked new member, Marcus Morris, “Did you see any situation where there was a disconnect in the locker room?” 

To which Morris replied, “Honestly yeah, I kind of seen it,” Morris said. “Sorry to say it. He’s been around there for a while. Sometimes time is just a little bit too long. I think he had the locker room. I think his time just ran out. Good dude on and off the court.” 

The team’s desperate attempt to persuade Donovan Mitchell to sign an extension is believed to be the reason behind Bickerstaff’s termination. It doesn’t help that there are speculations that Garland would look to move if Mitchell decides to extend his deal. After Mitchel’s on-court brilliance barely led the Cavs to defeat Orlando Magic in the 7-game first round and going as deep as the second round into the playoffs before losing against the Boston Celtics, The Athletic reported on May 15 that “Mitchell did not have great confidence in Bickerstaff.”

When asked about the rumors, Paul gave an ambiguous answer, “I think people have their own opinions of what works and what doesn’t work. As of now, there’s nothing to discuss on that.” His answer neither confirms nor denies the potential Lakers move. He continued, “You try to position guys a certain way to continue to have value. It’s the same way I go about the draft.”

He discussed his role in navigating and evaluating his clients’ situations. According to Paul, the league does not stop for anybody. “These guys have to make sure they understand that having the talent they have, and the production, allows them to maintain value. That value transitions into compensation and when you sum it all up, it’s really just a good a** job and sometimes you have to protect that for as long as you can.” 

Paul feels that the league and its landscape are constantly changing. While Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and Pelicans associate James Borrego are expected to be among the top candidates for the Cavs’ head coach job, Paul’s words signal a possibility for change in Darius Garland’s future.

Los Angeles Lakers interested in Darius Garland?

If the accounts about Cleveland’s locker room hold any ground then Garland’s exit may not be far from likely. The Lakers have been looking to complete their roster and a name that has popped up has been Donovan Mitchell. But if all goes according to what the Cavs’ have planned, then Mitchell will be extending with the team. In that case, the Lakers might look to speak with the team’s other Point Guard, Darius Garland.

Although Mitchell officially cleared up doubts about his opinion of his teammates, Garland has made no such attempts. It is important to note that during the pre-draft of 2019, the Lakers ‘secretly’ worked out with Garland when they possessed the #4 pick. Later on, they traded the pick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Later, Garland told ESPN “It’d be an honor to play with the Laker Nation. It’s a legacy.” This union seems to be getting more and more probable.

If the Cavaliers decide to retain Mitchell and trade Garland, the Lakers might sweep in and make an offer. This could result in big changes for both Cleveland and LA’s rosters. As the off-season approaches, the Cleveland locker room will remain to be the center of attention.