Garland is projected to make his Clippers debut very soon.
The Los Angeles Clippers are about to get a much-needed boost to their roster.
Two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland is expected to make his Clippers debut on Monday night when the team travels to face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, according to Chris Haynes and Law Murray of The Athletic.
Garland has already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but Monday's matchup against the Warriors will mark his first game action since January 14.
The 26-year-old guard was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster trade on February 3 that sent James Harden to Cleveland, and he has been sidelined ever since while recovering from lingering toe problems.
Garland dealt with left toe injury management and a right great toe sprain that knocked him out of the lineup during his final game as a Cavalier against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The toe issues have been a recurring problem dating back to last year's playoffs when he missed four games during Cleveland's second-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
He also underwent surgery in the offseason and missed the first seven games of the year.
What Garland Brings to the Table
Before going down with the injury, Garland was putting up solid numbers in 26 games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 18.0 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three.
He was trending in the right direction before the injury too, posting 20.1 points and 7.4 assists per game over his final 14 games in Cleveland while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor.
After six weeks of rest and recent participation in five-on-five scrimmages, the Clippers appear confident enough to get him on the floor.
Head coach Tyronn Lue has praised Garland's pace and playmaking in practice and previously compared working with the young guard to his early days coaching Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.
Garland will likely be on a minutes restriction for his debut, but his presence alone should give the offense a new look.
How Garland Changes the Clippers' Outlook
The timing could not be better.
Los Angeles sits at 27-31 and currently holds the ninth seed in the Western Conference, while the Warriors are 31-29 and sit in the eighth spot just a few games ahead.
Monday's game is a massive opportunity for the Clippers to close the gap on a direct play-in rival.
The Clippers have been one of the better teams in the league since mid-December, going 21-10 since their rough 6-21 start to the season.
Kawhi Leonard has been carrying a heavy load all year, averaging 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game through 44 games, but since Harden's departure the Clippers have not had a true point guard running the show.
Adding Garland gives the Clippers a legitimate one-two punch.
His ability to push the pace, create shots off the dribble, and find open teammates should take a lot of the playmaking burden off Leonard and allow the star forward to focus more on scoring.
Lue has already said the team plans to play faster with Garland in the lineup, and with 24 games left on the schedule and a brutal March ahead, the Clippers need him contributing as soon as possible.
If Garland can get anywhere close to the All-Star form he showed last season when he averaged 20.6 points and 6.5 assists for the Cavaliers, the rest of the Western Conference should take notice.
Monday night is just the beginning.