Darius Garland (Image Credits: Imagn)

Darius Garland Reveals Why He Saw Cavaliers Exit Coming Long Before Trade Happened

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 3:31 PM ET

The last NBA trade deadline brought some jaw-dropping moves, and one of the biggest shockers was the Cleveland Cavaliers landing James Harden. This major deal sent Darius Garland packing to the Los Angeles Clippers, marking the end of his seven-season journey with the Cavs.

While fans were stunned over the blockbuster trade, it turns out Garland had a feeling this was coming. In a candid interview with The Athletic, the 26-year-old revealed that he sensed his time in Cleveland was up long before the deal went down.

“It’s a new chapter of my life. Rich talked about it even last summer, before it happened, (saying) it’s probably going to be our last year there. So, I was ready for it. I knew it was going to come sooner or later. So, when it happened, I was like, ‘Let’s just do it. Let’s rock out,” Garland said (via Jared Weiss of The Athletic).

Darius Garland says he knew his time with the Cavs was over before the trade happened.

“It’s a new chapter of my life. Rich talked about it even last summer, before it happened, [saying] it’s probably going to be our last year there. So, I was ready for it. I knew it was going… pic.twitter.com/GZlbhX1DJF
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 30, 2026

It’s never easy to play in a place where you know your future is uncertain, but Garland persevered longer than most while facing the trade rumours around him.

Garland Reflects on His First Day in a Clippers Jersey

After a month of recovery from injury, Garland jumped into action with the Clippers, scoring 12 points and contributing two assists, two rebounds, and a steal in a 114–101 victory over the Golden State Warriors. His impressive efforts didn’t stop there—on March 22, he erupted for 41 points, 11 assists, and hit eight three-pointers, leading the Clippers to a thrilling 138–131 overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks. In a recent interview, Garland shared his first day experience with the Clippers.

“It’s like a new breath of life, like a revamp. Being around the guys makes it a lot easier because they’re so welcoming. Everybody’s super silly. Everybody’s talkative. My first day there, they were holding their arms out, for real, like, ‘Welcome.’ A lot of big brothers on this team,” Garland said (via The Athletic).

Darius Garland (Image Credits: Imagn)

Right now, the Clippers are making every effort to keep their playoff chances alive. They currently hold a five-game winning streak while sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Looking ahead, they will face the Portland Trail Blazers.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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