Why Darius Garland Could Be a Trade Candidate for Clippers This Season

A 2-8 start has the Los Angeles Clippers sitting 13th in the West and four games behind 10th-place Denver, and the trade talk is only going to grow.

Most of that talk has been about veterans.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported last week that scouts and executives see the Clippers as likely sellers, and he named center Brook Lopez, guard Kris Dunn, forward Rui Hachimura and wings Max Strus and Derrick Jones Jr. as players to watch.

Point guard Darius Garland was not on that list, but I think he is the one name that could change this franchise.

The Clippers got Garland from Cleveland on Feb. 4 in the deal that sent guard James Harden to the Cavaliers, with Los Angeles also getting a second-round pick.

He has played in all 10 games this season and is averaging 20.4 points and 6.9 assists while shooting 46.7% from the field, and teams around the league pay for that type of production.

His contract also sets him apart, since Garland is making $42,166,510 this season and is owed $44,886,930 in 2027-28 before he can become a free agent, so a team trading for him would get more than a half-season rental.

Garland is the only Clipper who could perhaps draw multiple picks in return, which is a big deal for a team that lost five first-round picks in the league's penalty.

The deadline is Feb. 11, and because Garland came over in a trade, the Dec. 15 waiting period for offseason signings does not apply to him.

There are reasons to hold on, starting with the fact that Garland has struggled with turnovers, averaging 5.0 per game compared to 3.0 for his career, and he took the blame for the turnovers after the sixth straight loss.

I think much of that comes from carrying too much of the offense, and help is on the way with forward Brandon Ingram nearing his season debut after heel and Achilles surgery.

Garland expects the same thing.

"I don't think I'll be getting doubled as much," Garland said after Sunday's win over New Orleans, when he had 24 points and 10 assists.

Head coach Tyronn Lue pointed to those 10 assists as a big part of that win.

My plan would be to give Garland and Ingram a few weeks together before making any call.

The Clippers host Oklahoma City on Friday, Charlotte on Sunday and Utah on Tuesday, and that stretch should show whether the turnovers drop once defenses have to worry about Ingram.

A better fit with more help would give the team reason to keep him.

If the losing keeps going, though, the front office has to listen.

The several veterans who could draw interest might return a pick or two, but Garland is the one player who could reset the future, especially with the team also dealing with turnovers and poor rebounding across the roster.

Trading a 26-year-old guard averaging over 20 points would hurt, but it might be the smartest move this team can make.