Darius Garland knew his Cavaliers days were numbered and is embracing L.A.

Darius Garland said he expected his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers to end and has joined the Los Angeles Clippers, where coach Ty Lue and teammates have welcomed him as he adjusts to a new role and on-court freedom.

Darius Garland's move to Los Angeles began with an early career meeting in Las Vegas that connected him to coach Ty Lue. At 19, freshly drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he met Dave Chappelle and was introduced by his agent Rich Paul to Lue in a green room. Garland said he expected his time in Cleveland to end after injuries and a playoff setback, and the trade to the Clippers gave him a chance to start anew. In L.A. he has found a welcoming locker room and new on-court roles alongside veterans such as Kawhi Leonard and Brook Lopez. Key details: - The article reports Garland was introduced to Ty Lue early in his career during a Las Vegas summer-league visit. - The Cavaliers traded Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that involved James Harden, and the Clippers also moved Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin and draft capital, as reported. - Garland made his Clippers debut on March 2; since then the team has gone 12-5 and posted the NBA's fourth-best net rating in that span, per Cleaning the Glass. - Coach Ty Lue has encouraged Garland to be more aggressive and said the team should "fit in with you," while teammates like Brook Lopez have praised Garland's impact. - Garland has dealt with injuries through his career and has played more than 70 games in a season only once, according to the article. Summary: Since joining the Clippers, Garland has described a renewed sense of freedom on offense and a welcoming team culture, and the team has shown improved results in the span after his debut. Undetermined at this time.