The Cleveland Cavaliers came into this season with high expectations. After finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings in 2024-25, the narrative heading into this year was that Cleveland and New York were poised to battle it out for East supremacy.
And while the Knicks have held up their end of the bargain, currently sitting at No. 2 in the conference, the Cavaliers have taken a step back. If the season ended today, they’d be fighting for survival in the play-in tournament-a far cry from where they hoped to be.
Naturally, that kind of underperformance has sparked trade chatter around the league. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Cleveland has made it clear that Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are off-limits in trade discussions.
But the same can’t be said for Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, whose futures with the team are starting to feel a little less certain. Stein’s report referenced a note from Chris Fedor that team owner Dan Gilbert is “very unhappy” with how things are going.
And when the owner’s not thrilled-especially one who’s paying a premium for a roster that isn’t delivering-changes can come quickly.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Cavaliers went all-in on Mitchell three years ago, hoping he’d be the missing piece to bring a title back to Cleveland in the post-LeBron era.
And to be fair, the regular-season results were promising. They’ve been a top-four team in the East each year since the trade.
But the postseason has told a different story: one first-round exit, two second-round exits, and a growing sense that this group might have hit its ceiling.
Last season felt like the window was finally opening. With Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton both sidelined by Achilles injuries during the playoffs, the path to the Finals looked more open than usual.
But Cleveland couldn’t capitalize. And now, with the team struggling to find its rhythm and consistency, it’s fair to wonder if that window is closing faster than anyone expected.
The Cavaliers have dropped four of their last five games, including two to the Bulls and one to the Hornets-teams they should be beating if they’re serious about contending. That kind of stretch raises eyebrows, especially with the trade deadline looming on February 5.
Complicating matters is Cleveland’s financial situation. The team is $22 million over the second tax apron, which puts them in a tight spot when it comes to making moves.
Under the NBA’s new CBA rules, teams above the second apron can’t take back more money than they send out in a trade, and they’re also prohibited from aggregating player salaries in deals. Translation: the Cavaliers can’t just throw together a few contracts and make a splashy move.
Any trade they make has to be precise and cap-compliant.
That’s part of what makes the Garland and Allen situation so intriguing. Mitchell and Mobley are the franchise cornerstones, and the front office doesn’t want to part with them.
But if Cleveland wants to shake things up-and Gilbert decides enough is enough-Garland and Allen are the logical pieces to move. Both are talented, both have value around the league, and both could bring back assets that help reshape this roster.
Of course, all of this could change depending on how the team performs over the next few weeks. If the Cavaliers start winning and climb back into the top tier of the East, the urgency to make a move might fade. But if the losses keep piling up, and the chemistry doesn’t improve, the pressure to act will only grow.
For now, Cleveland’s at a crossroads. The talent is there, but the results aren’t matching the expectations. And with the trade deadline approaching and ownership growing restless, the next few weeks could define not just the rest of this season-but the future of the franchise.