The Cleveland Cavaliers came into this season with high expectations-and for good reason. After finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference last year, they were seen by many as a legitimate threat to make a deep playoff run. But here we are, approaching the midway point of the season, and the Cavs are sitting at 15-12, clinging to seventh place in the East.
That’s not exactly the trajectory of a title contender.
With the Eastern Conference wide open-thanks in part to injuries sidelining stars like Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton-Cleveland was supposed to seize the opportunity. Instead, they’ve looked more like a team stuck in neutral.
And that’s where the pressure starts to mount. When you’ve got a core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen, the clock doesn’t tick quietly.
It ticks loud. And it ticks fast.
So, what can the Cavs do to give this roster the jolt it needs?
According to NBA analyst Dan Favale, Cleveland still has a few cards to play, even with their financial hands tied. The Cavaliers are the only team currently operating above the NBA’s second apron-a restrictive cap line that limits roster flexibility.
That means they can't combine player salaries in trades, which makes maneuvering tricky. But not impossible.
Favale points to three key trade assets: their 2031 and 2033 first-round picks, and rookie Jaylon Tyson. Those future picks carry weight, especially coming from a team that’s already pushed its chips in.
And Tyson? He’s a bit of a wild card.
If you believe in his upside-think a blend of Caris LeVert’s shot creation and Caleb Martin’s defensive versatility with a splash of Jimmy Butler grit-then his value could be significant. His contract, however, is just $3.5 million, which limits the kind of player Cleveland can bring back without sending out more money.
That’s the challenge: the Cavs can’t take on more salary than they’re giving up. So unless they find a deal for a similarly low-cost player, Tyson might be better used as a piece in a larger, multi-team trade-potentially to acquire draft capital that can grease the wheels on a bigger move.
And make no mistake, a move might be necessary. The Cavaliers haven’t been past the second round of the playoffs since 2018, and after a hot preseason buzz that painted them as Eastern Conference favorites, falling short again would be a tough pill to swallow.
So who could be on Cleveland’s radar? Earlier this month, Favale floated a few names: Herb Jones from the Pelicans, Justin Champagnie from the Wizards, and Kenrich Williams from the Thunder.
All three are versatile forwards who could bolster the Cavs’ wing depth-an area that’s been a soft spot in their rotation. Jones, in particular, brings elite perimeter defense, which could be a game-changer come playoff time.
Whether or not a deal gets done before February’s trade deadline remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: if the Cavaliers want to make noise in the postseason-and keep Donovan Mitchell happy in the process-they’ll need more than what they’ve shown so far.
The East is there for the taking. The question is, will Cleveland step up and grab it?