The Cleveland Cavaliers are navigating some choppy waters right now. After dropping eight of their last 13 games, the team finds itself at a crossroads-dealing with mounting injuries, inconsistent play, and growing pressure to make a move before things slide further.
Let’s start with the health issues, which have been the dominant storyline in Cleveland. Four of the team’s five regular starters have either missed time or are currently sidelined.
That includes Darius Garland, who hasn’t quite looked like the All-Star version of himself this season. Whether it’s rhythm, confidence, or lingering physical issues, Garland hasn’t been the offensive catalyst the Cavs have come to rely on.
Jarrett Allen, meanwhile, has been battling through physical wear and tear-specifically, his hands have taken a beating. And now comes the latest blow: Evan Mobley is out with a calf strain, one of the most common (and frustrating) injuries around the league this season. It’s the kind of setback that doesn’t just take a player off the floor-it disrupts the entire rhythm of a team trying to find its footing.
At 15-13, Cleveland currently sits in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. That’s not disastrous, but it’s certainly not where they expected to be at this point in the season. Expectations were higher, and the sense around the organization is that this recent stretch has been, frankly, disappointing.
That’s why trade chatter is starting to bubble up. According to league insiders, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are the only players considered untouchable in trade talks.
Everyone else? At least up for discussion.
That includes Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and De’Andre Hunter-names that would undoubtedly draw interest from teams around the league.
Now, it’s important to note that this isn’t a fire sale. Cleveland still believes in its core, and ideally, they’d love to see their top four players-Garland, Allen, Mitchell, and Mobley-actually get extended time on the floor together.
But the reality is, injuries have kept that from happening consistently. And in the NBA, patience wears thin when wins are hard to come by.
If the Cavs can string together some momentum, it’s possible the trade talk quiets down. Winning tends to solve a lot of problems.
But for now, there’s a sense of urgency creeping in. The front office is looking for stability, and with the East as competitive as ever, they know the clock is ticking.
Cleveland still has the pieces to be a real threat. But until they can get healthy and find some cohesion, the pressure to shake things up will only grow louder.