The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2026-27 season has already started to drift into uncomfortable territory, and a 5-6 record is the kind of start that can push a front office toward hard choices. If the slide keeps going, the roster won’t stay untouched for long.
One name that keeps coming up is Sam Merrill. He’s not playing right now because of an elbow injury, and that issue has also taken a toll on his jump shot this season, leaving him well short of the sharpshooter he’s been in past years.
At the same time, Cleveland has found other backcourt options that have made a real impact. Rookie Meleek Thomas has stepped in as a bench three-point threat and is shooting 48% from deep, while Tyrese Proctor has entered his sophomore season as a steady off-the-bench playmaker who can also knock down threes and run the offense for others.
With those two guards in the mix, Merrill suddenly looks like a player the Cavaliers could move if the losses keep piling up.
Jarrett Allen is another name that belongs on the list. For years, the trade chatter around Allen centered on the idea that Evan Mobley would become the team’s more dependable big man.
That hasn’t really played out that way, but it doesn’t rule out a deal. If Cleveland decides it needs young talent or draft picks, Allen would likely be the first player it shops, especially to a team trying to strengthen its playoff push.
There has long been a sense that if the Cavaliers started underachieving, Allen would end up taking the heat. If things really unravel, he could wind up on the chopping block. It would be a move that makes the Cavs look bad, but the source suggests it would be better to make that decision sooner rather than later, even if Allen eventually turns things around.
The other player in the conversation is Harden, and moving him would be a tough pill for Cleveland to swallow after trading All-Star point guard Darius Garland for him just a season ago. Still, the fit is complicated.
The Cavaliers would not be able to trade Harden and get much value back because of his contract situation and age. If Harden were willing to come off the bench, the team should keep him, but that does not sound likely.
If Cleveland does decide to move Harden, the cleaner path would be sending him to a contender so he can finish his career on a high note. That route could also give the Cavaliers their best shot at bringing back draft capital or a young player with upside.
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Cavs Got The Offensive Spark Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Cavaliers finally found the kind of offensive rhythm that has been missing in stretches this season, and it came in a win over the Knicks. James Harden set the tone with 32 points and four assists, while Donovan Mitchell added 23 points and seven rebounds to keep the pressure on New York. Jarrett Allen chipped in 11 points and 14 rebounds, giving Cleveland a steady inside presence, and the overall performance had the feel of a night when the ball moved with purpose and the scoring load was spread more naturally.
Tyrese Proctor also gave the Cavs a useful lift with 15 points, another encouraging sign for a team still sorting out its rotation and looking for reliable secondary scoring. For Cleveland, the bigger question now is whether this was just a strong one-off against the Knicks or the start of a more consistent offensive spark that can carry into the next stretch of games. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Finally Delivered The Kind Of Response Fans Needed
After a shaky stretch that had started to raise questions, the Cavaliers got the kind of road response they needed at Madison Square Garden, beating the Knicks 115-107 and snapping a two-game losing streak. Clevelands offense found enough rhythm to steady things, and Donovan Mitchell was central to that push with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Cavs moved back to 6-6.
The bigger takeaway was that Cleveland didnt let the night drift away once New York made it uncomfortable in the fourth quarter. James Hardens season-high 32 points gave the Cavaliers a needed scoring lift, and the win offered a cleaner snapshot of what this group can look like when it has to answer a challenge rather than absorb one. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Pressure Is Rising Fast But Kenny Atkinson May Not Be The Problem
A 5-6 start has a way of turning up the heat quickly, and the Cavaliers are already feeling it. Kenny Atkinson is the face of the sideline scrutiny, but the early-season frustration has been shaped as much by the roster around him as by anything happening in the coaching box, with the team not getting the kind of lift it expected from key pieces.
James Harden has been part of that conversation, and so has Peyton Watson, whose play has slipped from what he gave last season. When the production from important additions and veterans falls off at the same time, the pressure inevitably rolls uphill, and Atkinsons margin for error may not stay wide for long if Cleveland cannot find some traction soon. [Read more 🡒]