The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a disappointing 15-13 record and sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings after starting last season 24-4 through the same number of games.
They didn’t suffer their 13th loss last season until March 19.
Cavaliers Unlikely To Trade Mitchell Or Mobley
Amid surprising struggles, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that the Cavaliers have been getting “a ton of incoming calls from on their players” ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“When I talk to rival teams, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are really the two untouchable players on this roster,” Charania said while on NBA Today.
The next month will determine how aggressive Cleveland is ahead of the trade deadline, per Charania. Trade talks are potentially taking place behind closed doors, as the Cavaliers are just 3-7 in their last 10 games.
Since the Cavs aren’t making Mitchell or Mobley available for trade, the team could part ways with other players, including Darius Garland ($39.4 million), DeAndre Hunter ($24 million), Max Strus ($16 million), Dean Wade ($6.6 million), or Lonzo Ball ($10 million).
Darius Garland Has Been Underperforming
Garland was one of four players last season to average 20 points, five assists, and shoot at least 39% from 3-point range. He led all players in plus-minus in clutch time as well.
However, through 12 appearances (all starts) this campaign, Garland is averaging just 15.4 points on career lows of 36.3% shooting from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc.
At last season’s trade deadline, Cleveland acquired Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Caris LeVert, forward Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps.
During the offseason, the Chicago Bulls also traded Ball to the Cavs for guard Isaac Okoro.
Wade’s departure would create an opportunity for either two-way guard Luke Travers or two-way wing Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who went undrafted out of Memphis in 2024.
Big man Jarrett Allen ($20 million) could also be on the trade block. His five-year, $100 million contract expires at the end of the season, and he’ll start a three-year, $90.7 million deal in 2026-27.
