Staying Power or Salary Squeeze? Cavs Face Crucial Two-Year Window

August 5, 2025

Donovan Mitchell, Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers, Cavs, NBA — File photo

With no starters in their 30s, the Cavaliers should have staying power as NBA contenders. But they’ll need to manage an expensive roster to keep it that way.

Extensions for All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley kick in this season and will push Cleveland into the second apron. That gives the Cavs a two-year window before some difficult decisions may cost them a member of the core.

That core returns fully intact after a 64-18 regular season, the best in franchise history without LeBron James. But it wasn’t enough. Cleveland fell in the second round to eventual East champion Indiana in five games. And anyone watching could see the Cavs weren’t whole.

Point guard Darius Garland was playing through a painful big toe injury that eventually required offseason surgery. There’s a chance he misses the start of this season. Either way, the hope is he’ll be back to full speed when it counts.

Alongside Garland, the Cavaliers return Mitchell, Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and second-year coach Kenny Atkinson. Continuity matters. Cleveland has it. But in today’s NBA, payroll matters too. And the Cavaliers are about to feel that.

So yes, the talent is in place. The pieces fit. The chemistry is strong. The future is promising. But nothing lasts forever. For this group, the clock is already ticking a little bit.