Per sources, the Cavs owner has been "very unhappy" over the team's recent disappointing downslide.
No one within the Cleveland Cavaliers has been more frustrated about the team's ongoing brutal downslide than Dan Gilbert.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the franchise owner has grown "very unhappy" regarding the Cavaliers' disappointing play.
“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 shared in the Wine and Gold Talk podcast. “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.
The Cavaliers are experiencing awful progress this 2025-26 season, losing eight of their last 11 games en route to a 15-14 record.
After delivering a sensational 64-win campaign last year, what they are showing is simply unlikely for a team that has been touted by many as a title contender.
Significantly, Cleveland is facing key injuries in the wake of their slump. Max Strus is yet to make his season debut (foot surgery), while Sam Merrill (hand) and All-Star big Evan Mobley (calf) are set to miss more action for the Cavaliers.
Added by Fedor, Gilbert has been more involved now in the team's basketball operations following the Cavaliers' struggles.
“And he’s paying a huge a luxury tax bill,” Fedor continued about Gilbert. “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.”
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