The Cleveland Cavaliers have the chance to win it all next season.
In fact, if they don’t, one NBA executive thinks they should “blow up the roster” and start over from scratch.
Speaking to Hoops Wire, this unnamed exec talked about the expectations for Cleveland in 2025-26.
Anything short of a title will be a huge disappointment for Kenny Atkinson’s team.
“If they can’t win the East while Tyrese and Tatum are out, just blow up the roster. Because if they can’t win the conference with those two guys out, they won’t win it the following season when they’re back. Next season is do-or-die for this core. They have to make the NBA Finals next year,” the exec said. “There are no excuses. I don’t see one team in the East better than them with Tyrese and Tatum out. I think they’re better than New York. If they don’t win the East next season, Koby and Dan (Gilbert) should blow it up and start over because Tyrese and Tatum will be back in 2026. They can get a huge haul for Donovan and Jarrett and just build for the future around Evan. They’ll probably get expiring contracts for Darius.”
It’s hard to argue with some of this, because the Cavs may never be in a better position to become champions.
Boston’s loss of Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s of Tyrese Haliburton have completely changed the Eastern Conference.
There is a path all the way to a championship, and not just for the Cavaliers.
All teams know they can capitalize on the absences of Tatum and Haliburton, but Cleveland has the most to gain.
They need to show up and perform like they never have before.
Their sights should be set solely on a title, and if they don’t achieve that, they will be forced to reconsider everything about who they are.
This could be the season the Cavaliers win it all, or it could be the last time we see this iteration of the team.
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