The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations and a payroll to match. But nearly two-thirds into the campaign, they’ve yet to deliver on that investment. A year removed from a promising run, the Cavs now find themselves stuck in neutral-hovering around mediocrity while trying to figure out if this core can still contend or if it’s time to start reshuffling the deck.
Despite the mounting pressure, the front office doesn’t appear eager to make any sweeping changes before the trade deadline. The prevailing sense around the league is that Cleveland is keeping its powder dry for the offseason, where bigger moves could be on the table depending on how the rest of this season plays out. Still, that hasn’t stopped teams from picking up the phone-and one name that continues to surface in trade chatter is De’Andre Hunter.
Hunter, acquired at last year’s trade deadline in a move that was supposed to solidify the Cavs’ wing rotation, has reportedly drawn interest from multiple teams. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, Cleveland even received an offer that included a first-round pick for the 28-year-old forward-but they turned it down.
“They’re unlikely to make a substantial change before the trade deadline,” Siegel said on the Clutch Scoops show. “They’ve been quiet as of late.
There were teams calling them about De’Andre Hunter… They’ve rebuffed offers for Hunter at this point. They’ve even turned down an offer that included a first-round pick for him.”
That’s a telling decision by the Cavs’ front office. On the one hand, it signals a continued belief in Hunter’s potential fit with this roster. On the other, it suggests the team isn’t ready to concede that this version of the squad has run its course-not yet, anyway.
But there’s no denying Hunter hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. His three-point shooting has dipped below 31 percent, and with Darius Garland sidelined for stretches due to injury, Cleveland has needed more offensive punch from its supporting cast. Hunter hasn’t been able to provide it.
To be fair, Hunter’s struggles aren’t the sole reason the Cavs have underperformed. This is a team with multiple moving parts and a few nagging injuries that have disrupted its rhythm. But when you’re the team with the highest payroll in the league, the margin for error shrinks-and every underwhelming performance gets magnified.
Turning down a first-round pick for Hunter may end up looking like a missed opportunity, especially if the Cavs fall short in the postseason again. But it also reflects a front office that’s still holding out hope-perhaps for one final playoff push before bigger decisions need to be made this summer.
For now, the Cavs are choosing patience. Whether that pays off or backfires will depend on what this group can do when the games matter most.