The Cleveland Cavaliers’ path to the 2025 NBA Finals was as clear as day.
The Boston Celtics lost Jayson Tatum, and the team that seemed to pose the biggest threat in the Eastern Conference was eliminated by the New York Knicks.
Unfortunately, the Cavs may have thought of the Celtics before the Indiana Pacers.
Now, the Pacers have proven that their second-round victory against the Cavs wasn’t a fluke, and they’re not going away any time soon.
To add insult to injury, the Orlando Magic have added Desmond Bane, which is why analyst Jimmy Watkins believes the Cavs might be in trouble next season.
“The Bane trade adds an obstacle that Cleveland might not have accounted for. Or if they did, it’s bigger now. Remember, the Magic pushed Cleveland to seven games during the 2024 playoffs. With point guard Jalen Suggs in the lineup last season, Orlando was on pace for 47 wins again. Its fatal flaw has always been shooting, and it just added one of the league’s best marksmen,” Watkins wrote. “How confident are you in the Cavs’ bet on internal development now?”
The Eastern Conference doesn’t get as much credit, but it has several teams that can legitimately make a deep postseason run next season.
The Cavs only defeated the Pacers twice this season (including the playoffs), and now, the Magic have become another major threat to their aspirations.
The Cavs won 64 games in the regular season and proved to be a much better team than its detractors claimed they were, but they have yet to prove that they can get to the next level in the playoffs.
Things won’t get much easier, and with the Cavs strapped by the salary cap, they might not be able to add firepower this offseason.
Unless the Cavs take the same approach as the Magic and make a big trade, replicating this season’s success will be an uphill battle.
NEXT: Cavs Make Notable Addition To Coaching Staff
