The Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot to sort through this summer. They did reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, but the team's postseason finish still left a lot to be desired.

As the offseason truly gets underway, here are three realistic predictions for how the summer could shake out for the Cavaliers. 

There’s an argument to be made that the Cavaliers should explore major roster changes following last season. However, it feels more likely than not that the new core four will remain together over the summer and at least for the start of next season.

Donovan Mitchell doubled down on his commitment to the Cavaliers organization and city of Cleveland, even after another relatively disappointing playoff exit in the Eastern Conference Finals. James Harden has a player option to decide, according to many reports, which indicate that he’ll remain with the Wine and Gold for next season.

Koby Altman reiterated his affirmation of Evan Mobley being the future of the franchise during his end-of-season media availability. 

If there is a trade candidate out of the main group, Jarrett Allen is the most likely candidate. However, Altman also cited how Allen came through in multiple Game 7s when the season was on the line. 

One of Cleveland’s biggest restrictions moving forward is that they’re still a second-apron team and had the highest salary in the NBA at the beginning of last season.

Given how the cap rules work, this could quickly become an issue for roster construction. However, Cleveland could easily get out of the second apron with one trade.

If the Cavaliers are looking to make a move specifically to shed salary, moving on from either Dennis Schroder or Max Strus makes the most sense. 

Schroder is set to make $15.5 million next season, and Cleveland has reportedly already explored the idea of moving on from him. 

Strus is in line to make $16.6 million heading into the final year on his contract. If the Cavaliers are hoping to get something of value back in a deal that saves money, moving on from Strus could be the route that achieves that. His veteran impact and playoff experience could make him an intriguing trade target for another contending team. 

The Cavaliers have long valued Dean Wade for his defensive versatility and floor spacing. There’s a reason that he was the team's fifth starter for the majority of the playoffs. 

Wade is bound to generate a ton of interest from contenders because of his skill set. However, Cleveland has reportedly made it a priority to bring him back this summer. 

That feels like a likely outcome, given that the Cavaliers are already thin on the wing, and losing Wade would only make the issue worse. 

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