Darius Garland, on his trade to the Clippers: "I have a superstar by my side"
The new franchise point guard in Los Angeles is looking at the positive side of his departure from Cleveland towards LA
Darius Garland is getting closer to making his debut with Los Angeles Clippers. The point guard confirmed to Andscape that the team's medical staff will determine when he can return to the court in the NBA, after being out since January 14 due to a sprained big toe on his right foot, an injury that added to a previous surgery on his left foot.
While he completes his recovery, Garland is already reflecting on his departure from Cleveland Cavaliers, admitting that the trade was something he saw coming.
On February 3, Cleveland traded Garland to the Clippers in exchange for veteran James Harden. According to the player himself, his ongoing foot issues influenced the franchise's decision.
“The toe definitely influenced it,” Garland explained. “They didn't know if I would be healthy for this season, although I will be. They believed James had something I didn’t. He has playoff experience and All-Star numbers to this day.”
Garland, who was averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists in 26 games this season, also missed four playoff games in 2025 due to injury, a history that weighed in the management's evaluation.
A Move That Seemed Inevitable
The point guard revealed that his agent, Rich Paul, had already informed him since the summer that a trade was likely to happen.
“It was going to happen anyway, either at the deadline or this summer,” he acknowledged. “They want to win now. They have their group. And I guess I was not part of the plan.”
New Chapter Alongside Kawhi
In Los Angeles, Garland sees a different opportunity, especially sharing the locker room with Kawhi Leonard.
“I'll have the ball in my hands much more and will be able to contribute more,” he stated. “I have another superstar by my side. I can go for it too.”
Now, it all depends on medical clearance. But if his recovery progresses as planned, Garland's debut with the Clippers could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his career, this time with a team that aims to compete immediately.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Darius Garland, sobre su traspaso a los Clippers: "Tengo a una superestrella a mi lado"
