Even after bouncing back with a seven-point win over Charlotte on Monday, the Cavaliers have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA to open the 2025/26 campaign, currently holding a 16-14 record after going 64-18 last year. Owner Dan Gilbert is said to be “very unhappy” with the state of affairs in Cleveland, and there’s a rising sense of urgency to turn things around.
Despite the situation looking pretty bleak at the moment, the Cavaliers have reportedly yet to entertain the idea of trading Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen, two members of the “core four.”
On Saturday’s Wine and Gold Talk podcast (YouTube link), Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said the Cavs appear reluctant to part with Allen for many of the same reasons as Garland — he’s been limited by injuries, is having a down season, and they’d likely get pennies on the dollar if they thought about moving him before the deadline. As with Garland, the Cavs also seem to be higher on Allen than opposing teams, which is another factor that can’t be discounted, per Fedor.
The Pacers, Knicks and Raptors are among the Eastern teams looking for help in the middle, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, but the Cavs would have to be blown away to trade Allen to a conference rival.
“[Allen] has a lot of fans around the NBA, but unless the trade package was just irresistible, it’s hard to see the Cavs being willing to help another team in the East,” one source told Afseth. “Keep that in mind.”
Here are a few more rumors regarding the Cavaliers:
- On the same podcast, Fedor identified De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus, Lonzo Ball and Dean Wade as a handful of players on mid-sized salaries who could potentially be traded in the coming weeks if Cleveland’s front office decides against a more drastic overhaul. The issue, Fedor continued, is that Strus has yet to play a game as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery, and Hunter, Ball and Wade are all struggling in 2025/26. Fedor pointed out that Ball ($10MM team option for ’26/27) and Wade ($6MM expiring contract) could be easier to move than Hunter and Strus, as the latter two make more money and have guaranteed deals next season.
- Afseth hears from sources that Wade, who has spent his entire seven-year career in Cleveland, is a name to watch in the coming weeks. The 29-year-old is known as a solid defender and decent three-point shooter (36.0% for his career), but he’s converting just 29.0% of his outside looks through 27 games in ’25/26, which is by far the worst mark of his career.
- Marc Stein reported on Sunday that Kenny Atkinson could be on the hot seat in the coming weeks unless the Cavs start winning again despite being named Coach of the Year last season. According to Afseth, there have been “internal questions about Atkinson’s leadership,” and if the Cavs do decide to dismiss him, Donovan Mitchell is said to favor Johnnie Bryant taking over as interim coach. Bryant, who is known to have a close relationship with Mitchell, was a finalist for Phoenix’s head coaching job over the summer — that position went to his former colleague Jordan Ott.
Mitchell has gotta be the nicest coach killer in the league. He just wants to play for Johnnie Bryant for like the last 5 years.
What an overreaction. They’ve been without Strus all season, DeAndre Hunter missed time, and their 4 best players haven’t even been in the lineup.
Give the players time to get back on the court and get their chemistry back. If I can see this, their team chairman should be able to see that, too, with his dumb ass.
IS IT an overreaction??? The Cavs were 64-18 last season. They have nearly as many losses right now with 4 months to play. They were 26-4 at this time last year.
Yes, they have been hurt. They were also remarkably healthy last season and were un-done by injuries to players… and that might be their new normal.
Garland in particular has lost a step due to his toe and its tough to justify an undersized backcourt if they aren’t elite offensively.
IMO firing a coach because of a worse record due to an injured roster would be a huge overreaction. The team has already called this Stein clickbait inaccurate.
I’m more reacting to the trade stuff, not the coach stuff. It’s okay to apply pressure to the coach. I wouldn’t say Atkinson is firing on all cylinders this year and last year is likely his high-water mark.
Yes I thought it was a good idea myself…..
Cavs need a change some motivation. A kick in the mule …….
Garland, Allen, Ball, two 2nd rd picks >>>>
To Kings ——-
Sabonis, DeM DeR, Westbrook >>>>
To Cavs ——
Demar is a trash can. Sab is is an over-rated stat
Pad and Westbrook, lol.
Mitchell and DeRozan wouldn’t be a good pairing. Mitchell needs guys that can shoot threes and cut, that isn’t DeRozan.
Not only is it a terrible idea it also is impossible with second apron.
KBA never let’s the impossible stop him from having **** ideas
@KnickAl
Firing last season’s coach of the year is a good idea? And with that trade on top?
Nonsense. The FO let their backup PG walk, Strus hasn’t played, Garland has missed 13 games, Merrill 14 games, Allen 11, Mobley 5 – every player available has missed at least 2 games. On top of that, they’ve had a very tough schedule with half of their games vs teams with winning records and 6 B2Bs including a 5 games in 7 stretch already.
The Cavs owner can’t possibly be this stupid.
Cavs keep underachieving.
Cavs: Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze
Magic: Darius Garland
Cavs: Myles Turner
Bucks: Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr
Cavs:
Suggs Spida Hunter Mobley Turner
Ball Tyson Strus Wade Goga
Teams will find it hard to score on you with Suggs and Hunter on the perimeter and Mobley and Turner blocking shots at the rim. Then down the other end Spida and Mobley have more room to operate with Turner creating spacing. Suggs then provides a second playmaker but one that’ll demand the ball less than Garland.
Off the bench Goga gives you that more physical big and provides some good impact, while you keep everyone else.
I don’t know how many different ways it can be said. The Cavs can’t do multi-player trades while they are a 2nd apron team.
Sorry that this kills theory crafting but this is why teams are treating this like a hard-cap.
While I agree they’ve had a hard time with injuries this year, I am in favour of moving Allen. Pretty good regular season centre but his minutes crater come play-offs. Plus Mobley is a better centre than power forward.