Cavaliers could be forced to choose between star guard pairing

The Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the playoffs following Wednesday's 113-98 loss to the Boston Celtics. Now, there are questions surrounding how the roster might look by the start of the new season. 

Cleveland's front office has some decisions regarding Donovan Mitchell's future and whether they want to move on from their double-big lineup of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. 

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, multiple NBA executives expect the Cavaliers to part with one of their star guards. 

"Furthermore, rival executives believe the Cavs will have to seriously evaluate the fit of Mitchell and Garland and ultimately may have to choose one or the other," Charania reported. "Should Mitchell decide to stay long term, sources briefed on the matter say Garland’s representation, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, would have a conversation with Cavs officials on potentially finding a new home for the one-time All-Star."

Mitchell's future has been a consistent talking point. However, Darius Garland's spot on the roster has rarely been discussed. If the Cavaliers are forced into making that decision, and Mitchell commits his future to the franchise, Garland will likely be heading for a new team during the summer.

Cleveland's problem is that Mitchell has avoided committing his future to the franchise. If he continues to be non-committal, the front office will undoubtedly look to trade him during the summer, which would then see Cleveland retain Garland. 

Nevertheless, the Cavaliers are at their best when both Mitchell and Garland are on the court together. Garland's playmaking and probing are ideal next to Mitchell's aggressive scoring mentality. Still, if Cleveland is forced to make a change, they will undoubtedly get a significant return for Mitchell's services on the trade market.

Cleveland has slowly built a roster capable of contending at the highest level.  A run to the conference semifinals was a legitimate sign that the work is paying off. Now, the Cavs may need to take a step or two back to retool because the current roster is highly unlikely to be intact when the new season begins later this year.