At 15-12 on the heels of a disappointing home loss to the Charlotte Hornets and a gift win over the Washington Wizards, the Cleveland Cavaliers are mired in a slump that's been challenging to get out of. Players aren't consistently making shots or getting back on defense, which is a recipe for disaster in the perpetual motion of the NBA.

The Cavs still have plenty of time to right the ship, as it is only mid-December. But the question nobody wants to ask is this: What if it doesn't get fixed? What if Cleveland doesn't take care of its business against what we believe to be lesser competition?

In the latest episode of Courtside with Cavs, Spencer German and I chatted about that possibility and the difficult conversations it could lead to, including trade rumors:

"If things don't get better, then yeah, eventually, they're going to have to make moves. You start looking at what Donovan Mitchell's contract looks like, you look at the start of some of these extensions kicking in, and how much is gonna be on the books. Can you afford these guys? That's why the emergence of a Jaylon Tyson, a Tyrese Proctor, and a Craig Porter Jr. is so huge for the Cavs because those contracts are affordable.

"Whereas the guys like a Max Strus or a De'Andre Hunter or something like that, those kind of middle contracts give you a little bit of grief. I don't expect a trade right this instant, but they always have to be listening. They always have to be active and know if things aren't working out. It's just the job of a GM..."

The Cavs have a home-and-home series with the Bulls on the schedule over the next four days, followed by a rematch with the Hornets and a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Watch the latest full episode of Courtside with Cavs, and remember to subscribe to our CavsRoundtable YouTube channel for more coverage of the Cavaliers through the 2025-26 NBA season.

You can follow our comprehensive Cavs coverage as a team here on RoundtableSports.