The Cleveland Cavaliers made two splashy moves at the trade deadline. But could the key trade have been the one they didn’t make?
Veteran Forward Close To Making Season Debut, How Does His Addition Affect The Cavaliers’ Rotation, and Prospectus Down The Stretch
Cleveland entered the 2025-26 campaign with high expectations after posting the second-most wins in franchise history with 66 victories and returning the same core. However, the Cavaliers struggled with injuries and inconsistent play early on. The Cavs were just 17-16 after falling to the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets around Christmas.
The Cavaliers showed improvement in play in January, winning 13 of 18 games. But the Cavs still had only the 11th-best record in the league at 30-21 and a +3.1 scoring margin on February 1. And there was talk that the Cavs could reduce their NBA-high payroll by trading some veteran players, such as Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Max Strus, and De’Andre Hunter.
Cleveland ultimately accomplished both of its goals at the trade deadline. The Cavaliers slashed their tax bill for this season and also improved their team by trading Garland and Hunter for Keon Ellis, James Harden, and Dennis Schroder. With the trades, the Cavs got the 3-and-D wing they wanted, with Strus sidelined, in Ellis. They also got a bigger man in the backcourt with Harden and a reliable backup point guard in Schroder.
Since the trade deadline, Cleveland has the ninth-best record at 9-5 with a +5.2 scoring margin. The Cavs have been the fifth-most efficient offense, averaging 116.1 points per 100 possessions, and have improved defensively. Donovan Mitchell, who is having an outstanding season, has been much more efficient and better defensively since the trade deadline. Furthermore, Allen has played the best ball of the season — averaging nearly 20 points and 10 boards. Evan Mobley, Harden, Ellis, Schroder, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson have played well.
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