CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs might be 30-21 and firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but behind closed doors, serious doubts are emerging about whether their young core is truly ready for championship contention.
On the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor pulled back the curtain on a front office that appears to be going away from its previous commitment to the Core Four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
“They were looking around the rest of the roster and saying, is Darius Garland ready to be Donovan Mitchell’s sidekick in a chase for a championship? Is Evan Mobley ready to be Donovan Mitchell’s sidekick in a chase for a championship?” Fedor revealed. “And I think there are legitimate questions about the readiness of this roster to compete for a championship in a wide open Eastern Conference.”
This stark assessment helps explain the recent flurry of trade discussions, including the trade of Garland to the Clippers for James Harden. Garland, who’s been dealing with toe injuries, appears to be at the center of the organization’s reevaluation.
“Darius isn’t healthy right now and there were legitimate questions about, even when he’s cleared to play again, how effective is he going to be? Is this injury going to linger? Is this injury going to get re-injured?” Fedor explained.
The concerns extend beyond just Garland’s health.
“There’s still the appropriate fear of re-aggravation for a Jones fracture that required surgery,” said host Ethan Sands. “And the player that they might have had over the last two seasons might not be the same player they get and or need for a championship caliber run this season.”
But perhaps most concerning is the overall statistical evidence suggesting the current roster construction might have fundamental flaws.
Fedor pointed out that with Garland on the floor, the team has “a defensive rating of 118, basically, which is terrible,” adding that he’s “statistically one of the worst defensive players in the entire NBA.”
There’s also the historical challenge of winning with two undersized guards.
“Three teams in NBA history, three have won a championship with two guys sharing the same backcourt that are six-three and under. It’s just not easy,” Fedor emphasized.
All of these evaluations are happening against the backdrop of what the organization views as a rare opportunity. With Boston’s Jayson Tatum injured, Milwaukee struggling, and other Eastern Conference contenders showing vulnerabilities, the Cavs see this season as perhaps their best chance at a Finals run.
“Based on their current roster composition, I think there’s some queasiness about their chances of getting out of the Eastern Conference, and I think they’re trying to alleviate those concerns the best that they can,” Fedor said.
The ticking clock of Donovan Mitchell’s contract situation — he has just one more guaranteed season in Cleveland — adds even more urgency to these decisions.
As Fedor explained, the Cavaliers essentially have “three more months and one playoff run to put the right pieces around Donovan Mitchell so that he can say this is where I need to be.”
For a franchise that’s been carefully building around its young core for four years, this sudden willingness to consider major changes signals just how serious their championship aspirations have become — and how doubtful they are that the current roster can deliver on those expectations.
Catch the full discussion on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast to hear more about the Cavaliers’ internal evaluations and what other moves might be coming before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Here’s the podcast for this week: