Since the end of the second LeBron James era, the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to find both success and relevance. The situation has definitely improved in the Donovan Mitchell era, but they can't quite seem to get to the Finals. It's time for the Cavs to admit this roster cannot get it done.
When you take a step back and look at the crew the Cleveland front office has put together, it's easy to see why they should be contenders. Headed up by Mitchell, the roster includes Jarrett Allen, James Harden, Evan Mobley, Max Strus, Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, and Dennis Schroder.
The Cavs honestly have a solid group that should be able to get the job done in the postseason. Instead, it took them seven games to beat the Raptors and the Pistons, and then they got swept by the Knicks. Sure, they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, but that's not enough.
Cleveland's front office put this group together to win championships, and it's not happening. Even if they make it past the ECF, taking down teams like the OKC Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the finals is not likely for this group. The reality is they're good, just not that good.
The Cavs have hard offseason questions to answer
A major obstacle to winning a title is Harden. There's no question that he's one of the greatest guards in the NBA. Well, during the regular season, at least. Once the playoffs hit, the man chokes like he's got a baby carrot caught in his throat. It's a pattern that has repeated itself throughout his career.
The problem is that every front office thinks it will be different on their team, but it never is. Harden is going to Harden, and he will keep the Cavs from reaching the top of the mountain. While Harden is a problem that needs to be addressed, that doesn't change the fact that there are others.
Many of their players are one-dimensional and are lacking in versatility. This makes them vulnerable in a variety of scenarios. Cleveland struggles to fix these problems as they have one of the most expensive payrolls in the NBA. They are stuck between a very costly rock and a Harden place.
This version of the Cavaliers will continue to struggle to get out of the East. If they do, it will be by luck more than anything else, and their Finals run will closely resemble their 2026 Eastern Conference Finals appearance. At some point, the front office will have to get serious about fixing this team.
