Clippers Receive Comforting Offseason Injury Update for Darius Garland

Torn ligaments in his left big toe turned what should have been a fresh start for Darius Garland into a frustrating exercise in patience.

The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Garland from the Cleveland Cavaliers during last season's trade deadline expecting an immediate backcourt upgrade, but the injury followed him to Southern California and prevented the 26-year-old from ever settling into a rhythm with his new teammates.

That chapter now appears to be over, with Garland telling HoopsHype during a recent offseason interview that his body is finally where it needs to be.

"But now, having a full summer, having a full offseason back to 100 percent. It was a mental fog most of the time," Garland said.

He described the first half of last season as a mental fog, saying the injury affected his confidence and decision-making even during the stretches when he was cleared to play.

Garland averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists per game across 19 appearances in Los Angeles, showing flashes of the dynamic playmaking ability that made him an All-Star in Cleveland.

The problem was consistency, as he missed significant chunks of the schedule and never had the opportunity to build real chemistry with the rest of the roster.

The Clippers finished 42-40 and missed the playoffs as the ninth seed in the Western Conference, ending a season that fell well short of expectations.

A healthy Garland could be the difference between a playoff team and another disappointing finish.

When Garland was at his best last season, the Clippers' offense looked like it had found the second creator it needed alongside the existing core.

His ability to run the pick-and-roll, create off the dribble, and knock down pull-up threes gives Los Angeles Clippers a weapon they lacked for years as the front office searched for the right backcourt partner next to their veteran wings.

A full training camp and preseason with the team should allow Garland to develop the two-man game connections that were impossible to establish during a midseason adjustment period while battling through pain.

The Clippers have some important early-season matchups circled on the calendar, and having Garland available from opening night would be a significant boost for a franchise that needs to prove it can take the next step.

If this offseason has gone the way he says it has, the Clippers may finally get to see the version of their point guard that convinced them to make the trade in the first place.

That version averaged over 21 points per game in his best season with Cleveland, and it is exactly what this team needs to move back into the playoff picture.

Garland shot 43.8 percent from three-point range with the Clippers last season, so even on a bad toe, his shooting never wavered.

A healthy version of that stroke combined with a deeper understanding of the playbook could give Los Angeles Clippers one of the more dangerous backcourts in the West heading into training camp.