The Cleveland Cavaliers are seen as a team on the brink of something big if they make a few tweaks. If the rumors turn out to be true, a big change coming their way is moving point guard Darius Garland to the Sacramento Kings for a trade package that includes Malik Monk.
An anonymous NBA executive says the Cavs should trade Darius Garland and believes Sacramento, in a deal for Malik Monk, could be a potential fit
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 7, 2025
“I think they need to trade Darius. That backcourt is too small with him and Donovan (Mitchell). I love the Lonzo (Ball) trade. If I… pic.twitter.com/vYLjvI6iyB
Before the Kings signed Dennis Schroder, they did have interest in Garland. That trade was either never seriously pursued or the Kings didn't like what the Cavs wanted in exchange at the time. What is clear is that Monk is not part of Sacramento's long-term planning.
The front office spent most of the summer trying to trade Monk, reputedly to make room for Russell Westbrook. It's for the best that didn't work out as Malik is a core part of the Kings' bench and losing him could be devastating to their second line. Still, it doesn't hurt to wonder.
What Garland brings to the Kings
To put it mildly, Darius Garland is an elite scorer who can make his shots from basically anywhere on the court. His handles and footwork are unbelievable, meaning he can make room to shoot. That includes incredible finishes in the paint as well as being reliable from beyond the three-point arc.
On top of that, Garland is an incredible playmaker. His passing is on another level as is his court awareness and basketball intelligence. His vision on the court is second to none, allowing him to set up his teammates for success or operate perfectly in isolation.
The big question is why the Cavs would want rid of such a great player. When Garland is playing, their backcourt is small and he's a good player to move. Plus, he is almost unfathomably bad on defense, so much so that it's hard to believe the Kings will want him.
Defense is everything on the Kings
According to every conceivable metric that one might rate the defense of an NBA player, Garland is abysmal. A cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift weighed down with cinder blocks would be more effective than Darius Garland on defense.
The Kings' head coach, Doug Christie, has been clear that defense is the focus of the team, now. If someone on the roster doesn't play defense, they don't play for the Kings. For that reason alone, it's unlikely that Christie would get behind this trade.
There's also the fact that the Kings do not need another point guard in the rotation. If they are going to trade Malik Monk, and no one is suggesting that they should, the front office should be looking for defensive-minded forwards and centers to provide more support at those positions.