Cavs facing ‘no one is safe’ reality if playoff run falls flat

The Cavaliers have been here before. Good team. Talented roster. Real expectations.

And still no trip past the second round since LeBron James walked out the door in 2018. So yeah, the pressure is real this time.

With Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen leading the way, the Cavs are expected to make a serious run. Conference finals or bust? That’s the vibe.

And if they don’t?

“I feel secure in saying if the Cavs don’t make the conference finals, nobody is safe,” Cleveland.com’s Jimmy Watkins said. “Top down. Everyone’s fair game to be traded.”

Does that actually include Mitchell?

“There is a scenario here where the Cavs decide that it’s better for them to move on from Donovan,” Watkins added.

Now it gets tricky.

Mitchell is extension-eligible this offseason, but could also play out the final year of his deal. If that happens, the Cavs risk losing a franchise-level player for nothing — which would put even more pressure on the front office to act.

Meanwhile, Harden is widely expected to decline his player option and hit free agency.

So yes, this could go a lot of different ways.

The Cavs reached the second round last year before falling to Indiana. Right now, they’re tracking toward a first-round matchup with the Hawks.

Regardless of who they face in the postseason, the message is pretty clear: Win now.

Or be ready for everything to change.