The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a very different place than they were at this time last season. A year ago, they came out of the gates blazing with a 15-0 start that had the league buzzing.
This time around? They’re sitting at 15-13 - still competitive, but far from dominant.
And when expectations shift, so does the conversation around a team.
Right now, that conversation includes trade calls - and a lot of them.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Cavaliers are getting “a ton” of inquiries from teams around the league. That’s not surprising. When a team that was once seen as a rising power starts to wobble, rival front offices start circling, hoping to find an opportunity to pry loose a key piece.
Two names, however, are reportedly off-limits: Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. No shock there. Mitchell is the engine of the offense and still one of the most explosive guards in the league, while Mobley remains the franchise’s long-term cornerstone - a versatile big with elite defensive instincts and sky-high potential.
But it’s the names that aren’t being called untouchable that raise eyebrows.
That includes Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and De’Andre Hunter - all players who have played key roles in Cleveland’s recent success, and all of whom could command significant value on the trade market. Garland, in particular, is an All-Star-caliber point guard who, when healthy, brings high-level shot creation and floor vision.
Allen is a defensive anchor and elite rim protector. And Hunter, though newer to the Cavs' mix, adds size and switchability on the wing.
Now, let’s be clear: there’s no indication the Cavs are actively shopping any of them. But the fact that teams are calling - and that Cleveland isn’t shutting the door across the board - suggests the front office is at least open to evaluating its options.
And that makes sense. This team isn’t falling apart, but they’re also not firing on all cylinders.
The chemistry hasn’t quite clicked the way it did during last year’s hot start. The offense has looked stagnant at times, and the defense - once a calling card - has had its lapses.
That’s led to a stretch of uneven play that has Cleveland looking more like a middle-tier team than a true contender.
So what now?
Maybe the solution is internal. A tweak to the rotation.
A shift in strategy. A renewed focus on defense.
Sometimes, a team just needs time to find its rhythm.
But sometimes, a bigger move is needed - not just to shake things up, but to send a message. A message that mediocrity isn’t acceptable.
That the goal is still to compete at the highest level. That this team isn’t content with being good when they believe they can be great.
There’s still time before the trade deadline, and there’s no guarantee anything happens. But the interest is there.
The calls are coming in. And now it’s on the Cavaliers’ front office to decide how bold they want to be - and whether this season is a bump in the road, or a sign that something needs to change.