The Cavaliers are heading into the new NBA season with plenty to sort out after their run fell apart in the Eastern Conference Finals, and ESPN has now dropped Cleveland into an unexpected rivalry conversation.
Zach Kram’s ranking of the top-10 rivalries to watch for the upcoming year included the Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns, but not in the usual sense of two teams battling for position on the floor. This one is about the people running the franchises.
Kram pointed to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and Suns owner Mat Ishbia as the key figures behind it. Both men operate mortgage companies in Michigan, and that business connection appears to have spilled into the league.
The tension was already visible when Ishbia was voted in as Suns owner. Gilbert was the only one who abstained.
That dynamic has been out in the open for a while. In 2023, Ishbia appeared on Bill Simmons’ podcast and made his feelings plain when talking about Gilbert.
"He doesn't like me and I don't like him," Ishbia said.
The teams themselves haven’t exactly added fuel through roster moves either. Since Ishbia bought the Suns, Cleveland and Phoenix have not made a trade, and that situation is expected to hold.
There’s also a practical limit to how much this can play out in games, since the Cavaliers and Suns do not meet often. Still, the possibility of a Finals matchup would bring the ownership feud into a much brighter spotlight.
The Cavaliers’ offseason has been centered on trying to build on what they already had, with the front office adding complementary pieces. Cleveland also made a push for LeBron James, but he chose the Philadelphia 76ers instead.
The move they did make was landing defensive standout Peyton Watson, a pickup that could end up being one of the summer’s best.
In Other News...
Cavs Fans Just Got A New Reason To Revisit The Garland Trade
Adam Silvers penalties on the Clippers for salary cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard have changed the mood around a franchise that suddenly has a lot less room to maneuver. Losing five first-round picks through the 2034 season is the kind of punishment that reshapes a teams timeline, and it immediately puts pressure on every move Los Angeles makes from here. For Cleveland fans, it also brings back a familiar name in a very different light.
Darius Garland, who was recently acquired by the Clippers, now sits in the middle of a roster picture that could shift quickly if the team decides to lean into a rebuild. Players with his profile can become valuable trade chips when a front office is forced to think long term, and that makes his place in Los Angeles worth watching closely. For the Cavaliers, it is another reminder that the ripple effects of the Garland trade may not be finished yet. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Fans Just Learned The Catch In Next Seasons TV Plan
Cavaliers fans finally have some clarity on where theyll be able to watch the team next season, with Cleveland announcing that its games will stream on DAZN beginning in 2026-27. The setup sounds straightforward enough at first glance, especially for a fan base that has spent years tracking where the next game might land, but the full picture comes with a few layers that matter once the schedule starts unfolding.
Out of the 82 regular-season games, 17 nationally televised matchups will not be part of the DAZN package, and 15 more will be available free through an over-the-air partner. That leaves at least 50 games exclusive to DAZN, which puts the subscription side of the plan front and center for anyone trying to follow the team regularly, even as DAZN says it will also offer several pricing tiers and carry some regional sports programming at no charge. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs First Rounder Suddenly Has A New Spotlight
Jonathan Kumingas path has taken another turn, and with it the market around the players the Lakers are still weighing. After not signing with Los Angeles, Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with Minnesota that includes a player option, leaving the Lakers to keep scanning for a different way to round out their roster.
One name now sitting in that conversation is Cam Whitmore, the former first-round pick who was recently waived by the Cavaliers. Whitmore already has NBA experience, and with the Lakers still exploring options, he could be in play for a two-way contract if their search points in that direction. [Read more 🡒]