Operation Garland
When the trade for Darius Garland was announced; there was a mix of opinions, but mostly the Suns fanbase thought the trade was a mistake as the former 1st round pick wasn't too good of a shooter nor did he seem to be with the money spent on him. A top 5 protected 1st rounder and 2 2nds are what got Garland to Phoenix and there has been a myriad of issues with the move. Many in the organization were seen as trying to rescue a failed 1st round pick or panicking to get Tatum some help after the trade to bring Tatum in saw many talented pieces leave the organization. With rumors of a rebuild coming to Phoenix and Garland being locked up until 2035 under a team friendly contract; there seems to be rumors picking up of Garland being the core piece of a Phoenix rebuild whispered around the arena.
Word around Phoenix is that Garland has impressed management this season with his play and they see him as someone who should be their leader for years to come. Darius has reportedly been a much needed pickup in the locker room as well has played a key role with helping around the community. However; its his play for the team that has really turned heads here in Phoenix and now showcases that he can truly be something more than just a secondary player to Tatum. 19.1 Points Per Game, 5.6 Assists Per Game are significant improvements over previous seasons. More than the numbers are the efficiency that he has contributed, 43% from the field/87% from the free throw line/41% from three showcases that Garland has had a play in making sure his play has contributed to being efficient. It seems like the reviving Garland's ability to play basketball has been successful; now there is the issue of getting the Suns to shine alongside Garland.
