The Cleveland Cavaliers have somehow flown under the radar this offseason. They lost in the second round in each of the last two years despite impressive regular seasons, although they don’t catch much flak for their shortcomings.
They boast two All-Defensive level frontcourt players and two All-Stars in the backcourt, and have plenty of wing depth to boot. On top of that, they boast the single most expensive payroll in NBA history.
This season, there are 392 million reasons why the Cavaliers can’t fall short. The franchise has had no notable success without LeBron James, and the clock is ticking. According to NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, this has to be the year.
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 13: Darius Garland #10 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 13, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers Are Under Pressure
Let’s break it down: Donovan Mitchell is an MVP candidate. Evan Mobley is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Both Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland have All-Star nods. Lonzo Ball and De’Andre Hunter can defend multiple positions, and the roster is by and large the same one that won 64 games last season.
It doesn’t sound like there is room for any excuses for falling short this year, and “falling short” is anything less than a Finals appearance.
“They say you get punked by Indy,” said Carmelo Anthony on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “You see what’s happening. Mental toughness. Where’s our mental toughness? They can’t do nothing better than they did last. They defend, they do everything. They score, they shoot, they defend. Number one team in the East. So now the tweak that you come back with is, and Kenny Atkinson said, we’re about to make some tweaks.”
Atkinson has made it clear that he still wants to see improvement from his star-studded roster. “Tweaks” to the roster, as Anthony noted, are not needed. The Cavs were elite last season. What the team needs is an injection of energy and urgency, and they might have trouble finding it.
Cleveland Cavaliers Are Stuck With Their Roster
Having a 64-win core under contract for the next several seasons should be a good thing. Mitchell, Allen, Mobley, and Garland are all signed through 2028 at the very earliest.
As the salary cap increases, Cleveland will have more options to improve the supporting cast. Barring a trade, however, the core is in place.
Mitchell, despite success with Utah, has never made it past the second round. The rest of Cleveland’s stars can all say the same. No one is facing free agency, everyone knows the checks will keep coming in.
In short, urgency is not something the Cavaliers necessarily possess.
If Cleveland is to take the next step, it needs to look inward to get over the hump in the weak Eastern Conference playoff picture.
How Cleveland Cavaliers Can Avoid Being ‘Punked’ This Season