Darius Garland is "extremely close" to returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers lineup, according to J.B. Bickerstaff.

Garland has been out since breaking his jaw on December 15.

Evan Mobley, who has been out since early December due to left knee surgery, returned to the Cavs lineup on Monday night.

The Cavs went 14-4 without Mobley. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won nine of their last 10 games. And they might get a star player back before their next game.

Big man Evan Mobley may make his return for the Cavs game against the LA Clippers on Monday. Mobley has been out since December 6, when he was injured against the Orlando Magic.

Mobley had arthroscopic left knee surgery on December 18 and was given a 6-to-8 window to return. If Mobley returns on Monday, it will be exactly six weeks after surgery.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have let rival teams know that center Jarrett Allen is not available in trade talks. Cleveland sees Allen as a core member of their team for the foreseeable future.

Allen is in the third year of the five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Cavs in the summer of 2021. The 6-foot-11 center has averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 blocks for Cleveland this season. Allen has keyed the Cavaliers second-ranked defense, especially so with Evan Mobley out of the lineup.

Cleveland has also told teams that Donovan Mitchell isn't available via trade. Mitchell has two years left on his contract following this season, with a player option in 2025-26. The star guard will be extension-eligible this coming offseason.

Tristan Thompson has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren, which is a growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, commonly used by bodybuilders and weightlifters for muscle enhancement.

Thompson signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason after his brief stint in broadcasting and with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are signing Pete Nance to a 10-day contract, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Nance averaged 13.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Cavs' G League affiliate. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in trading for an upgrade on the wing and have Royce O'Neale as a potential target.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired O'Neale from the Utah Jazz at the start of the 2022 offseason.

De'Andre Hunter has also been linked with the Cavaliers, though his three seasons and $70 million remaining on his contract contract complicates any trade scenario.

Darius Garland has been cleared to resume some on-court activities after being sidelined for the past month with a broken jaw. Garland had the wiring in his mouth removed on Monday.

Garland sustained the injury on Dec. 15th at the Boston Celtics. 

The Cavaliers initially estimated that he would be out at least six weeks.

The Miami Heat continue to have "bona fide" interest in trading for Donovan Mitchell, sources tell Marc Stein.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have maintained a position that they have no interest at all in entertaining a Mitchell trade. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 if he doesn't sign an extension during the 2024 offseason.

The Heat previously pursued Mitchell in 2022, as well as Damian Lillard in 2023.

While the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will continue to be mentioned in any trade for Mitchell, multiple executives believe the Heat are the "prime team to watch for" due to how well they would complement his game and his defensive liabilities. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers and guard Ricky Rubio have agreed to a contract buyout. Rubio has been away from the team this season while addressing his mental health.

It's likely this buyout ends Rubio's NBA career. If he returns to play, it will likely be in his home country of Spain.

The veteran point guard contract was for $6.1 million this season. Rubio had $4.3 million of his $6.4 million contract guaranteed for next season, as well.

The New York Knicks swung a big trade over the weekend. The Knicks acquired OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn from the Toronto Raptors for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and the 2024 Detroit Pistons second-round pick.

With Anunoby in the fold, that's led some to wonder what's next for New York. It doesn't appear that a trade for long-rumored target Donovan Mitchell is coming anytime soon.

Indications are that the Knicks won't go all-out in efforts to trade for Mitchell, despite the team and player having been linked in the past. The Cleveland Cavaliers also told rival teams throughout December that they have no intentions of trading Mitchell.