Darius Garland was apparently unhappy with how his Cleveland Cavaliers stint ended on Tuesday night, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden and a future second-round pick.
During a recent episode of the 92.3 The Fan, insider Mackenzie Pflum said that Garland felt blindsided by the trade since he was so eager to work his way back from a serious toe injury to help the Cleveland Cavaliers amid their purple patch.
“It has been on the works in the couple of days now…I will say that I think everyone was shocked by this. It wasn’t something that was on our radar. It kinda came out of nowhere,” Pflum explained.
“I was told that he felt disappointed that the team didn’t give him a little bit more time to work this out and that he’s just really upset. He’s going to miss Cleveland. He didn’t necessarily see this coming, either,” she added.
Cleveland Cavaliers News: James Harden shares championship aspirations with the team after blockbuster trade
The Cleveland Cavaliers got busy before the trade deadline, as they’ve acquired Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, and James Harden in the past few days. In his first message after moving to Cleveland, Harden reiterated his desire to win the Larry O’Brien trophy.
“I see an opportunity to win in the East — they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. So as much as I wanted to stay in L.A. and give it a go, I’ve never won one before. As a basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance,” Harden told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
“At the end of the day, it is a business, and I think both sides got what they wanted, are in a great place, and are very happy. I’m excited about Cleveland. I’m still trying to chase my first championship and do whatever it takes to win,” he added.
