The Cleveland Cavaliers received a brutal salary-cap ranking among NBA teams.

By winning Defensive Player of the Year last season, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley triggered a clause in his contract that calls for him to increase the first-year salary of his rookie-scale extension from 25% to 30% of the salary cap.

As a result, the Cavaliers are over the second apron in 2025-26 and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report thinks Cleveland has the sixth-worst salary-cap situation in the NBA. 

"Donovan Mitchell, who extended his contract last summer, only has two guaranteed years remaining on his deal (with a player option before the 2027-28 season)," Pincus wrote. "The books get clean if he leaves, along with De'Andre Hunter and Max Strus potentially hitting free agency after 2026-27—but then playoff viability could be lost.

"In the meantime, the team is over the second apron with a heavy investment in Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Mitchell, Hunter and Strus. Cleveland also owes significant draft compensation over the next few years (mainly to the Utah Jazz from the Mitchell trade)."

The Cavaliers were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2025 playoffs and looked primed to compete for the championship. 

However, Cleveland lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games. The Cavaliers haven't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since acquiring Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 

The 2025-26 season is a critical campaign for Mitchell and Co. Since Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has already been ruled out for the season and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is not expected to play either, many pundits believe the East is Cleveland's to lose. 

However, if the Cavaliers can't at least reach the NBA Finals next season, major changes could happen to the roster in the summer of 2026.

Cleveland's front office has been busy this offseason trying to improve the roster. Koby Altman traded Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls for Lonzo Ball, re-signed Sam Merrill and signed Larry Nance Jr.