The Cleveland Cavaliers just gave themselves a little more breathing room - and maybe a little more firepower - ahead of the trade deadline. By sending De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings, the Cavs not only cleared a bit of financial space under the second tax apron, but also opened the door to more flexibility in reshaping their roster. And make no mistake: that’s by design.
President of basketball operations Koby Altman didn’t dance around the purpose of the move. After the trade was finalized, he made it clear this wasn’t just about trimming payroll - it was about positioning the team to keep building toward a championship.
“This positions us better to keep building a championship caliber team now and into the future,” Altman said. Translation: the Cavs are still going for it, but they know they might need to pivot to get there.
And that pivot might include something the team has long avoided - breaking up the core four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
For over a year, that quartet has been treated as untouchable. The front office has consistently signaled that those four are the foundation.
But that stance may be softening. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there’s a growing sense that the Cavs aren’t quite as locked in on keeping the core intact as they once were.
Speaking on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst said, “For a while now, it was very clear that they did not want to touch the core four. I think it’s probable that the core four will still be on the team on Thursday afternoon, but I think the fact that I have heard some more willingness to expand beyond that indicates that the Cavs feel a level of pressure with this roster in this season.”
That pressure is real - and it’s coming from every level of the organization. This is the most expensive team in the NBA right now, and with that kind of payroll comes championship expectations.
But despite a recent stretch of strong play, the Cavs haven’t quite looked like a team ready to crash the top tier of contenders. And time isn’t exactly on their side.
If the Cavs do consider shaking up the core, it won’t be just for the sake of change. Any move would have to clearly upgrade their chances to win now. That’s a tall order with the trade deadline just days away, but it’s not off the table anymore - and that’s a shift worth paying attention to.
One of the more intriguing dynamics in Cleveland’s recent run is how Jarrett Allen has thrived in Evan Mobley’s absence. Allen poured in 40 points in a win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday, adding another chapter to what’s been a trend: he often plays his best ball when Mobley isn’t on the floor.
It’s not just about one game - it’s about a pattern that’s hard to ignore. For all their individual talent, the core four hasn’t consistently clicked as a unit, particularly when the lights are brightest in the postseason.
There’s also the not-so-subtle fallout from two recent trades that haven’t panned out. The Cavs lost the initial De’Andre Hunter deal with the Hawks, and their decision to prioritize Lonzo Ball over Isaac Okoro or Ty Jerome hasn’t aged well - even though Jerome has barely seen the court this season. Hunter’s already been moved, and now the team is actively trying to find a new home for Ball, too.
So here we are: a few days from the deadline, and Cleveland is in a spot where a bigger move is finally possible. That doesn’t mean it’s inevitable.
This front office has never been one to make a deal just to make headlines. But the flexibility is there, the pressure is mounting, and the willingness to consider something bold is creeping in.
Altman has talked often about the team’s “long runway” to contention. But here in early February, that runway is starting to feel a little short. If the Cavs are going to take off, it needs to happen soon.