Owner Dan Gilbert has been “very unhappy” with the Cavaliers‘ performance this season, particularly over the past few weeks as the team has dropped eight of its last 11 games, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast (YouTube link).
The Cavaliers have lost three straight games, starting with Charlotte last Sunday. The past two losses have come at the hands of Bulls, another team that had been struggling. Going back a bit further, the Cavaliers barely beat the lowly Wizards last week and lost at home on Dec. 6 to a Golden State team that was missing all of its top players.
“Two sources with knowledge of the situation, very close to the situation, say that Dan Gilbert is very unhappy about what is going on,” Fedor said. “He turns on the games and he hears boos? Four times in the last five home games? Turns on games and sees the Cavs trailing by double digits again. Sees the Cavs leading by one minute in the second half of these games.
“And he’s paying a huge a luxury tax bill,” Fedor continued. “It’s the highest payroll in the NBA. It’s the only team in the second apron. He’s willing to do that when he thinks the team has a chance to win the championship. When he believes in the group that he has. But it’s not that early anymore. … When you see this 29 games in, you start asking questions if you’re the guy in charge with everything in this organization.”
As Fedor mentioned, the Cavaliers are operating over the second tax apron, which will limit their roster flexibility in the coming weeks. The team’s luxury tax bill is currently projected to be nearly $164MM, per Spotrac.
The Cavs held the best record in the Eastern Conference — and second-best overall — in 2024/25 when they finished 64-18. They lost to Indiana in the second round of the playoffs but largely ran back the same roster in the hope of making a deeper playoff run.
However, things haven’t gone as planned through about 35% of the season. The Cavs have dealt with several injuries to key players and haven’t looked anything close to last year. They’re currently 15-14, the No. 8 seed in the East.
Fedor said members of Cleveland’s front office have been trying to allay Gilbert’s concerns by stating that Max Strus, Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley will eventually return from their respective injuries. Still, Fedor suggested that Gilbert has become more involved in the basketball operations department of late and that could factor into the team’s moves ahead of the trade deadline.
Really, what a shock. What are you going to tell me next, water is wet and the sky is blue!?
This is precursor of big changes with Cavs, I could see them going after GA if he gets available, Mitchell for GA could be appealing for Bucks too.
Cavs are losing because they lack elite forward and their front is overpaid especially Allen, he usually have good empty stats during season, but in po he is just bad and that’s when he’s available at all.
There are many reasons for Milwaukee not to want Mitchell. One of them is that his contract is until 26-27, and 27-28 is a player option. He didn’t want to be in Utah, will he want to sign an extension in Milwaukee?
Cavs not trading Mitchell. But I could see them putting together some kind of package to get GA. Maybe with Garland & Allen.
Sorry but Giannis doesn’t work for the Cavs so long as they’re in the 2nd apron.
-A 2nd apron team cannot take in more salary than it is sending out (Giannis makes 54, Mitchell makes 46).
-You cannot aggregate players and be over the 2nd apron (i.e. a 2-for-1 isn’t possible).
In other words CLE can’t trade a player unless they are REDUCING salary.
Yes, that’s why i think that they’ll try to get rid of Allen.
The problem with Allen is he doesn’t make that much. He’s still on his bargain 20M before his extension kicks in next year. (He isn’t nearly as expendable either given the rest of their roster).
The Cavs are 22M over the 2nd apron so even if they gave Allen away for free they’d still be there. Hunter, FWIW, makes 23M.
There should be a team willing to acquire Hunter for a player making 15M-18M. Terence Mann, Patrick Williams, etc make less money but have longer-term contracts.
Strus makes 16M. They likely need to move him out for someone like Ty Jerome (irony!), making 9M.
Once they’re out of Apron hell it makes it easier to trade one of their core players without having to give them away for cents on the dollar.
Hm, I didn’t see this coming. I thought they’d be having a better season. I see a lot of things in Phoenix that made Cleveland good last year. Was Ott so important to them?
Still, I expect them to find better form as the season goes on.
What’s probably going to happen is moving De’Andre Hunter (23M). He lost his starting job to Jaylon Tyson, and is a luxury they can’t afford. Even with his struggles there are plenty of teams out there who need a starting caliber wing.
Ditto Max Strus (15M). The Cavs desperately needed Tyson to breakout so they could put a rookie contract guy around the rest of their core.
Turning either of these players into someone cheaper / less talented (like a Patrick Williams, Josh Green, Grant Williams, etc is likely what’s in the cards before you can even think about the big picture stuff.
Shred payroll with Allen going to Utah for 12 million in returning salary. Also, Hunter to the Nets with 8 million returning. That can be a savings of 23 million in savings off the 40 million. Maybe, you get a frp for Allen and some seconds due Hunter. Than, try to trade Strus somewhere taking back less salary. Last trade Garland to anyone that can take in minimum 8 million more in savings. If these 4 players are eventually traded them they can come really close to shedding all their tax.