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[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs waive former Arkon standout

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a tricky stretch coming up.

They are expected to be without Evan Mobley (calf) for the next one to three weeks and are still without the services of Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot). Additionally, standout two-way player Nae’Qwan Tomlin only has eight more games he can be active with the Cavs unless they convert his contract to a standard deal. For reference, the Cavs have seven games before the All-Star break.

This all creates a crunch where the Cavs could need more available bodies that they trust to provide NBA minutes as they await the Feb. 5.

With that in mind, it isn’t surprising that the Cavs are reportedly waiving two-way player Chris Livingston.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived two-way forward Chris Livingston, league sources told @hoopshype.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 27, 2026

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Livingston hasn’t provided many meaningful minutes for the Cavs this season despite the team’s injuries. The Akron native had just 17 minutes of playing time spread across three games with the team.

The majority of Livingston’s time has been spent with the Cavs’ G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. Livingston has appeared in 16 games with the Charge and averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on .437/.258/.844 shooting splits.

The release of Livingston opens up one of the team’s three two-way spots. Additionally, it stands to reason that another one of those two-way spots will be made available when the team presumably converts Tomlin’s current contract to a standard NBA one.

Luke Travers occupies the Cavs’ other two-way spot. He’s appeared in just 12 games this season for the Cavs this season. Travers is averaging 18.1 points, nine rebounds, and 5.1 assists on .430/.284/.636 shooting splits in 14 G-League appearances.

We’ll see what direction the Cavs go with those openings. It’s worth mentioning that Killian Hayes — who is playing well — isn’t eligible for a two-way deal due to his previous service time. Darius Brown and Tristan Enaruna are potential internal candidates for a deal. The team can also look outside the organization for a possible two-way player.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/clevel...ivingston-cleveland-cavaliers-charge-g-league

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Opinion: Donovan Mitchell’s voice is important, but so is yours

There are many ways to write a story like this.

I could simply recap the events that have taken place in Minnesota this month, while including the quotes from Donovan Mitchell, who shared his thoughts on the matter after the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ win over the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Or, I could let loose and vent my frustrations on how we have reached a point where civilians being executed by masked federal agents is something we debate on its merits.

I won’t be doing either of those things.

Instead, I want this story to focus on empathy, Mitchell’s role as a leader, and the importance of community building.

“It’s violence, it’s senseless violence,” Mitchell said of the recent events in Minnesota. “It’s become the norm, it’s become something that, quite frankly, I don’t feel like any of us in here should be like ‘man, this is just a normal thing.’”

I read something like that, and can’t understand how anyone would disagree.

How a quote as uncontroversial and apolitical as ‘hey guys, let’s not kill each other,’ can incite such inflammatory responses online is somehow still surprising to me, even in 2026.

We can point to a million reasons for how we got here. Everything from increasingly partisan news outlets to social media algorithms that build their profit by keeping you angry. But there’s one thing that everyone stuck in this loop has in common:

We’ve been robbed of our empathy.

“We are in this bubble as NBA players, we are removed,” said Mitchell. “But being in Minnesota when that happened, it really made you open your eyes because you’re there, you feel it.”

This bubble that Mitchell references isn’t exclusive to the NBA. We all live in our own bubbles. It’s easy to ignore what’s happening to other parts of the world, and even easier if you consider those people to be lesser than you.

Empathy requires understanding. Understanding means opening yourself up to consider something new. The bubble can only pop if you allow it. For many of us, that’s a comfort zone we aren’t willing to leave.

“We lose the human part of it, that’s what’s alarming,” Mitchell said. “I have family who came to this country, they fear for their lives, and they are legal citizens.”

A quote like that should immediately incite sympathy. One human telling another that their family feels unsafe. That’s a universal language that anyone on Earth can empathize with.

Rather, the predictable response of “stick to sports” is a reminder of how isolated we’ve become.

You can only dismiss Mitchell’s quote if you view him as an athlete, not a person. In that case, he should keep shooting jumpers instead of talking about his family. Those conversations are for people, not basketball players.

I don’t know how to break through that level of cognitive dissonance. All I can do is reiterate the core of Mitchell’s message and highlight the ‘human’ part of this, which we have somehow lost.

“That can’t be who we are as a country and as a people,” Mitchell concluded.

The two-party system has asked us to unconditionally align with one side of the government rather than the people we live with. To choose celebritized politicians over the communities we share.

This team-sports mentality is what causes someone to watch two civilians be gunned down and refuse to consider if a line has been crossed. It’s no different than the belief that your favorite team has never committed a foul, no matter how egregious the contact.

Mitchell’s comments are important. Someone with his platform has a responsibility to educate themselves and speak truth to power. Cleveland is lucky to have a star who can do both of those things and articulate their thoughts righteously.

But, with all due respect, Mitchell’s voice will never be enough. At least, not on its own.

Each member of a community has a responsibility to the others. This is something that we have forgotten in our individualistic society. We can not build a greater sense of belonging if we are willing to throw other groups into the meatgrinder just because a larger-than-life politician told you it was right.

Empathy has to return to the front of the line.

Get involved locally. Volunteer to help someone less fortunate. Join groups founded on positivity and make friends who enrich your life. Get a hobby. Hell, do anything else besides doom-scrolling your humanity away. Your life and the world around it will be better for it.

I’ve included a list of things below. I’m confident you can find more if you search.

Volunteer and Food Banks:

• Greater Cleveland Volunteers
• Community for Better Living
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank
• Re: Source Cleveland
• Food Not Bombs CLE

Community Building

• 8 Cleveland Book Clubs to Join
• Tabletop Board Game Events
• Visible Voice Books Events
• Dudes of Cleveland
• This is Cleveland Event Calendar

I have no delusions that this blog will stop someone from hating their neighbor, or justifying any horror the federal government can inflict on a group they deem worthy of its assault.

I only hope to speak to the good in humanity. A goodness that I believe makes up the overwhelming majority of people — even if the smaller, opposing voices might be more prevalent online.

“You are no better than anyone, and no one else is better than you.” – John Wooden

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/genera...-mitchells-voice-is-important-but-so-is-yours

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Current Cavs recall where they were for 2016 NBA Finals

Every longtime Cleveland Cavaliers fan remembers exactly where they were on June 19, 2016. It’s impossible to forget the anxiety that turned into euphoria when the final buzzer sounded, LeBron James fell to the floor, and a professional sports team in Cleveland was crowned champion for the first time in 52 years.

Members of the current Cavaliers had a different perspective on that Finals.

Larry Nance Jr. is the only one from the current group who grew up in the area and was in the league a decade ago. The rest were just college, high school, or even middle school-aged kids watching one of the best Finals of their lifetime.

Jaylon Tyson was 13-years old at the time, but he remembers that Finals vividly.

“I was 1,000% locked in,” Tyson told Fear the Sword. “We were seeing it at my dad’s house. Me, him, and my little brother were sitting there watching it. And all I remember is the block. I got up. That was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Tyson grew up a fan of LeBron, so he was thrilled with the result.

“I was happy for LeBron, happy for Cleveland, obviously, and then I got drafted here,” Tyson said. “It was a full-circle moment.”

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Lonzo Ball was a little older. He was preparing for his freshman year of college at the time.

“I did like the Cavs at that time,” Ball told Fear the Sword. “LeBron was my favorite player, so I actually watched Game 7 in my homie’s dorm room in UCLA on a little, tiny ass 30-inch screen.

“College life was definitely exciting. I was on the basketball team, so obviously, we loved the game. So, can’t really ask for anything better than that Game 7 and for it to end the way it did.”

Dean Wade had a similar story. He watched the game with his college teammates at the Kansas State practice facility.

“Half my team was split, like 50/50,” Wade said to Fear the Sword. “We were all cheering for a different team. It was the loudest the locker room had ever gotten.”

Wade was also rooting for the Cavs, but more so out of a disdain for the Warriors.

Not everyone was as locked in. Both De’Andre Hunter and Nae’Qwan Tomlin followed the series as high schoolers, but they weren’t living and dying with every possession.

Jarrett Allen didn’t watch that Finals at all, admitting that he didn’t pay attention to the NBA when he was in high school.

Then, there’s Craig Porter Jr., who was 16 at the time, remembers the actually important stuff.

“I remember J.R. Smith,” Porter told Fear the Sword. “I remember some shit like he ain’t put a shirt on for a week or something like that. I remember that it was one of the biggest parades. [Matthew] Dellavedova almost died guarding Curry.”

Delly was hospitalized during the 2015 series, but that’s important lore in the Cavs and Warriors rivalry.

“I wasn’t a fan of either team,” Porter said. “But you gotta watch that. It’s the best brand of basketball.”

Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers will be as close to a 10-year celebration of that Finals as the Cavs will get. It’s the one time LeBron will be back in Cleveland this season. They’ll undoubtedly show highlights from that series, and the crowd will give him a standing ovation.

Even though 10 years have passed, we still haven’t seen a Finals come close to recreating the cultural and local impact that one did. And it will likely be several more decades until we see one that rivals it.

That 2016 Cavaliers team and championship are one of one.

“In my opinion, it was the finest Finals victory there ever was,” Ball said.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...veland-cavaliers-nba-finals-2016-jaylon-tyson

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

LeBron James wrestles with basketball mortality in possible last trip to Cleveland

CLEVELAND — LeBron James is human, despite spending the last 23 years convincing us otherwise.

For one of the few times in his entire career, James seemed overwhelmed by the emotion of a game. He cried when the Cleveland Cavaliers played a tribute video for him after the first timeout, which is something he’s rarely done on a basketball court.

The video was highlights of James from his incredible Game 5 performance against the Detroit Pistons in 2007. He watched a version of himself that physically couldn’t be stopped by one of the best defensive teams of that decade, even though each defender was doing everything in their power to do so.

That clip was 19 years old and from multiple basketball lifetimes ago, even though James still remembers “that moment like it was yesterday.”

Basketball mortality isn’t something James has seemingly had to contemplate often. The guys he came into the league with have transitioned to different phases of their lives. Even someone like Derrick Rose, who was once thought of as the up-and-coming young player that represented a new generation to challenge James for his throne, just had his jersey retirement ceremony with the Chicago Bulls last weekend.

The regular laws of physics and aging have generally not applied to James, but that’s changing.

“I don’t take these moments for granted, because it could be,” James said when asked if this was his last game in Cleveland. “Obviously, I haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be.”

The hometown fans didn’t take the moment for granted either. As has been the case for the last 23 years, they reacted to every move that he made once he entered the stage.

The crowd erupted when he first emerged from the tunnel for pregame warmups. Provided him with the loudest ovation during player intros. Groaned when he missed a putback layup. And gave him the loudest ovation of the night after the tribute video ran.

One of those people cheering was his mother. James took a moment to look up to her suite at the start of the game and gave her his signed jersey from the game as a present.

As has become a tradition the last two seasons, Bronny James has been one of the highlights of the night. He scored eight points once the game was decided, including a breakaway dunk that garnered one of the loudest crowd pops of the evening.

“My mom is here watching her son and her grandson,” LeBron said. “I don’t even know how to even wrap that all around in my brain, you know. It’s so weird and so cool, and so surreal. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time. … Shit.”

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This warm and familial reception from his hometown stands in stark contrast to what James has been facing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James is no longer the star the organization revolves around. He wasn’t offered a contract extension last off-season, and could enter free agency next season with his current team presumably not too concerned about whether or not he leaves.

That has also carried over on the court. The night-to-night excellence isn’t to the level it’s been for the last two decades. Wednesday’s 11-point performance, in which James had more turnovers than assists, was the exception to what has been an All-Star caliber season. Still, it’s been rare to see James draw a blank on a game that meant something to him.

Aging is a difficult process. You’re trapped with the memories of who you used to be, even though that person can never be summoned again.

But the player that is currently there is still better than an overwhelming majority of the league and can still reach a gear that few can. That’s the reason why the Cavs are reportedly interested in opening the door for a possible third stint this summer.

While a reunion would be a great story, James would also fill a lot of holes around this core. His playmaking, size, and ability to beat mismatches are all things the Cavaliers have shown they needed based on previous postseason runs. And Wednesday made clear that the hometown fans would welcome him back with open arms.

Whether or not James would be up for a second return — or another season in general — remains to be seen. He’s accomplished everything there is to in the game and has nothing further to prove to the outside world. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t motivation there to continue on.

“My why has been that I’m still playing at a high level,” James said. “I still love the process of putting in the work, inspiring, given what I got to the game because I’ll have more years in my life without it than I will with it. … The thought (of retiring) creeps in my mind more at 41 years old, of when the end is and where the finish line is to hang this thing up. … [I want to see] how much juice I can squeeze out of this orange.”

James is no longer the guy in the baggy, navy blue jersey carving through that great Pistons defense in overtime. No one can keep playing at James’s level forever.

At the same time, there’s something more inspiring and relatable about an all-time great waging a war they’ll eventually lose.

“I’m in a battle with Father Time,” James said, “and I kind of take it personally. I want to see how many more times I can be victorious over him.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-f...les-lakers-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-free-agent

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs reportedly considering a ‘home run swing’ before trade deadline

Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of their best stretch of the season. But all eyes remain on the upcoming trade deadline.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says he believes the Cavs have been active and there’s a decent chance they’ll make a move.

“I think there’s a decent chance the Cavs do something, they have been very active in calls… I think they’ve considered making a home run swing and I think they’ve looked for ways to shave off money.”

Windhorst also mentioned that he “does not want to get aggregated here.”

Sorry, Windy. We couldn’t resist.

It’s worth acknowledging how hamstrung the Cavaliers are by their financial situation. The second apron prevents them from taking back more money than they send out—and from combining player salaries in any trade unless that trade puts them below the second apron (of which they are currently $22 million over the limit).

Put simply, the Cavs either have to make a 1-for-1 swap (unlikely) or dump $22 million of salary while also matching the salary of whoever they trade for.

Let’s look at Giannis Antetokounmpo as an example. He’s making $54 million dollars this season. Add that salary to the previous $22 million figure, and the Cavs have to send out at least $76 million just to absorb Antetokounmpo’s contract and duck the second apron.

That’s a tall order for any team. Especially a Cavalier team that’s currently on a five-game winning streak and just hitting its stride. Gutting the roster, even for a player of Antetokounmpo’s status, is a difficult decision to make.

Still, Windy says anything is possible for the Cavs.

“Why not?” Windhorst said in response to whether or not the Cavs could get Giannis. “There are trade scenarios that could make it happen. Do I think they are a serious contender? No. But it’s not impossible.”

Now that we’ve unpacked everything, I’d say it sounds unlikely the Cavs make a homerun swing. But Koby Altman and the front office are doing their due diligence and weighing all of their options. This isn’t a team that’s sitting on its hands and accepting fate. If they stay put at the deadline, it’s not for a lack of trying. The Cavs are listening to offers.

“Just trust that if there’s a star player out there, the Cavs have had a discussion about it,” Windhorst said.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...dering-a-home-run-swing-before-trade-deadline

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs at Suns: How to watch, odds, and injury report

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 31: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket around Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on December 31, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Suns 129-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing some of their best basketball of the season. That will be put to the test on Friday as they embark on a five-game Western Conference road trip that starts Friday when they take on the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns have been a pleasant surprise this season. They’ve exceeded expectations and are heading in the right direction under the leadership of former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott. They are, however, expected to be without the services of Devin Booker. He’s dealing with an ankle injury. And, they’ll also be playing the second end of a back-to-back as they take on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The Cavs will also be without two starters, with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley unavailable. We’ll see if they can keep the momentum going from their impressive performance on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (29-20) at Phoenix Suns (28-19)

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center – Phoenix, AZ

When: Fri., Jan. 30 at 9 PM

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass

Point spread: Not yet set

Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Suns injury report for Thursday’s game against Detroit: Devin Booker – OUT (ankle), Collin Gillespie – QUESTIONABLE (hand), Jalen Green – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

Suns expected starting lineup: Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams

Previous matchup: The Cavs won the first meeting of the season 129-113.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.5 (9th)	114.1 (11th)	+3.5 (9th)
Suns	115.8 (15th)	113.1 (7th)	+2.7 (11th)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...s-at-suns-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs and Lakers reportedly considering a De’Andre Hunter trade

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket around De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 129-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing their best basketball of the season, but are reportedly still looking to upgrade their roster ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks was the big move they made at the deadline last year. Hunter could be on the move again this winter.

According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers have had discussions about a deal centering around De’Andre Hunter for Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers. However, a third team would need to be involved to get a trade to work.

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Finding a third team could be the holdup. The Cavs are in the second apron. That means that they can’t bring in more money in a trade. The Lakers are just below the first apron but are capped from exceeding it in a trade like this.

Since Hunter — with his unlikely contract bonuses — makes slightly more than Hachimura and Knecht combined, a trade involving just those players is illegal for the Lakers to make. Los Angeles would need to drop an additional player making just over $1.3 million to a third team. The second apron keeps the Cavs from taking that additional player or adding another player of their own to the trade to balance things out.

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The Cavs could shave a little over $20 million off of next season’s cap sheet with a deal like this. Hachimura is on an expiring contract and Knecht is set to make just $4.2 million next season. Meanwhile, Hunter is owed a little over $24 million next season in the last year of his contract.

On the season, Hunter is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 42 games.

Hachimura is averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on .500/.433/.756 shooting splits. Knecht has averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists on .442/.323/.688 shooting splits in his second season in the league.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-r...es-lakers-cleveland-cavaliers-trade-rumor-nba

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs get run over by Suns in lackadaisical performance

Jan 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) moves the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t able to sustain their good play from the last several weeks. They dropped the first leg of their five-game Western Conference road trip in embarrassing fashion, falling to the Devin Booker-less Phoenix Suns 126-113.

The final score isn’t indicative of how lopsided the game was. The Suns led by as many as 33 in the fourth quarter before the Cavs made the final score more tolerable in garbage time.

Despite the ending, the game was back and forth throughout the first half, with Phoenix taking a five-point lead into the break. That changed quickly in the third quarter.

The Suns thoroughly dominated that frame, winning it 45-32. The Cavs had no answer on defense as the Suns went 16-20 (80%) from the floor in that quarter.

Tempers flared at the start of the fourth as the Cavaliers became increasingly frustrated with the officiating, which wasn’t at all why they were being run off the floor. Head coach Kenny Atkinson picked up his second technical foul of the evening just one minute into the final quarter. That at least saved him from witnessing the conclusion of a game that the Suns led by 33 at one point.

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Two things did the Cavaliers in on Friday: Three-point shooting and turnovers.

The Suns were able to exploit the Cavs’ poor perimeter defense. They couldn’t stop dribble penetration and had to collapse the defense to protect the rim. This led to easy drive-and-kick threes that the Suns knocked down at a 47.9% clip.

Meanwhile, the Cavs weren’t able to get the three-ball to fall as they went 15-48 (31.3%) from beyond the arc. This led to Phoenix having a 24-point advantage in points off of threes.

This was coupled with an inability to take care of the basketball. Without Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (calf), and Craig Porter Jr. (knee), Atkinson’s group needed Donovan Mitchell to organize the offense. He failed to do so, turning it over eight times, one off his career-high of nine for a game.

Mitchell wasn’t the only one giving it away. As a team, the Cavs coughed it up 22 times. Phoenix capitalized with 36 points off turnovers.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 27 points on 9-14 shooting, a day after dropping 40 in a win over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

Brooks was the only Sun to finish with more than 20 points, but seven finished with double-digit points.

There’s little to take away from the Cavaliers’ perspective. This was a truly awful game with very few redeeming qualities.

Jarrett Allen looked good in the first half, but that fizzled away in the second half. Jaylon Tyson played well, providing 16 points on 7-13 shooting, but he wasn’t able to do enough to slow Phoenix’s momentum.

De’Andre Hunter led the team with 17 points on 7-15 shooting.

Mitchell had 16 points on 6-12 shooting with six assists and eight turnovers in the loss.

The Cavs will look to get things headed back in the right direction when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Tip-off is at 9 PM.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-s...land-cavaliers-donovan-mitchell-jarrett-allen

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Report: Wizards showing interest in Cavs point guard

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 129-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards are reportedly one of several teams that have called about Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Lonzo Ball, per Mike Scotto of HoopsHype. Washington has nearly $30 million in cap space to absorb contracts, in exchange for the price of draft picks.

Ball has been a major disappointment for the Cavs, shooting just 29.9% from the floor and even worse from beyond the arc. While his shooting is not the main reason the Cavs acquired him, Ball’s passing and defense have not been able to offset the otherwise terrible splits. He has been passed on the depth chart by Craig Porter Jr., and at times, Tyrese Proctor as well, meaning he has been left out of the rotation entirely.

Ball is in the first year of a two-year $20 million deal he signed with the Chicago Bulls, but the second year is a team option – one that will overwhelmingly not be picked up by whoever has the 29-year-old come this summer. If the Cavs are able to clear out Ball’s contract now as opposed to this summer, it would free up a roster spot and get them closer to escaping the dreaded second apron, although additional salary would need to be cut in order to do so.

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The Cavs are expected to be one of the more active teams this trade season, with the deadline coming on Thursday. De’Andre Hunter has already been mentioned several times in trade discussions, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. Ball and Hunter combined account for $34.9 million on the salary sheet, and the Cavs are most certainly not getting that value back — or even close to it. If they can offload those salaries and get salary relief and/or better-fitting players, it could help plug some of the holes on the roster.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-r...rds-lonzo-ball-cleveland-cavaliers-washington

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Trade Grade: Cavaliers grab Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis from Kings

Jan 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder (17) shoots over the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers made their first move of what could be a busy trade deadline. De’Andre Hunter, who’s been in trade rumors for weeks, was dealt to the Sacremento Kings in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. The Cavs also had to send the Denver Nuggets’ 2027 second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls to make the deal work.

There are three main benefits to this deal for the Cavs:

1. It adds a proven backup point guard who can attack off the dribble
2. Bolsters a poor perimeter defense
3. Helps the Cavs save money this season and possibly next

Schroder will help the Cavs immensely. The Lonzo Ball experiment has been a disaster. The scoring just hasn’t been there as his three-point shot has completely fallen off a cliff. That has been problematic since he doesn’t have the athleticism to get inside and finish in the paint anymore.

Ball wasn’t brought in for his scoring, but, you can’t be the orchestrator of an offense if defenses don’t respect that you can make them pay for leaving you open. This has led to him being benched recently for Craig Porter Jr., who isn’t ready to be a top-eight rotation player on a contending team.

Schroder solves this issue. He’s a bona fide backup point guard who can create for himself and others off the dribble. He also brings plenty of playoff experience, which is something this group needs.

The 6’4” Ellis is more of a wildcard. He’s a 26-year old, undrafted fourth-year swingman who’s an incredible perimeter defender. That’s an area where the Cavs could use help.

There's a reason why Keon Ellis is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA.

Look at that footwork. Tremendous last step. Always in balance.

Two stocks and a steal off the bench against Boston. pic.twitter.com/3jYuqyQQAY

— Ersin Demir (@EDemirNBA) January 31, 2026

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To say Ellis is disruptive is an understatement. He’s currently in the 95th percentile for blocks and 96th percentile for steals for wings.

Despite his defensive skills, the Kings weren’t giving Ellis the minutes he deserved. He was averaging just 17.6 minutes with Sacremento this season, which is down from the 24.4 he was getting the year before.

Ellis isn’t a well-rounded offensive player, although he is a three-point threat. He’s a career 41.6% outside shooter and is connecting on 36.8% of his threes this season.

The move also saves the Cavs nearly $50 million in luxury tax payments this season, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That number could be more if the Cavs can find someone to take Lonzo Ball’s $10 million contract for this season.

This trade doesn’t get the Cavs out of the second apron. They’re still over by $13.9 million. However, it does give them more breathing room this offseason.

Schroder is making $10 million less than Hunter next season. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer, but is eligible for an extension starting next week. How much future money the Cavs save for next season remains to be seen. This move could help them get under the second apron in the offseason if that’s their goal.

Those benefits came at the cost of Hunter.

Things weren’t working between the Cavs and Hunter. He struggled with his shot at the start of the season, and it never really felt like he bought into the team’s vision after he was moved back to the bench. Still, it’s fair to wonder if the Cavs ever put Hunter in a position to truly succeed.

The ideal version of Hunter was someone who could fit alongside their core four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Hunter had the shooting and size to be the perfect small forward that the team has been looking for to complete that group. That said, he wasn’t given a chance to prove that.

The Cavs played that five-man group just a combined 90 minutes over the last two seasons. That unit did well. They outscored opponents by an outstanding 46 points when they all shared the floor.

Hunter was given a fair shot in the starting lineup. He opened up 23 games with the Cavs this season with just three alongside the core four. Injuries to the other members of that group are mostly to blame for that, but the Cavs didn’t make the most of their various opportunities to see how Hunter worked with that group. That’s frustrating since the little we saw was tantalizing.

Instead, Hunter was mostly asked to be a small-ball power forward — a role that he struggled with immensely. Hunter doesn’t rebound well for his size, which is essential to playing power forward on a team that doesn’t have good guard rebounding.

Moving on from Hunter leaves little depth at small forward. Jaylon Tyson’s emergence makes Hunter more expendable, but the only other players you’re okay giving small forward minutes to in the playoffs are Ellis, Dean Wade, and Max Strus. If you could guarantee perfect health for Wade and Strus in the playoffs, that wouldn’t be a concern.

Still, the Cavs are a more well-rounded team after the move. They needed the skills that both new players bring, and are also in a better financial position because of it. It’s not easy to find deals that accomplish both goals.

Overall, this trade was a win, but it’s difficult to see it as a homerun. Not figuring out how to make things work with Hunter was a swing and a miss. The Cavs gave up two key rotation players, Caris LeVert and Georges Niang, to acquire Hunter at the deadline last season. In hindsight, that move looks like a disaster.

There’s no reason to throw good money after bad, but last season’s failed trade is going to bump the grade of this one down slightly.

Grade: B+​

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...andre-hunter-dennis-schroder-keon-ellis-kings

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs at Trail Blazers: How to watch, odds, and injury report

Dec 3, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) in the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tough start to their road trip. They weren’t prepared to go against a hard-playing Phoenix Suns team and paid the price. We’ll see if that changes against the Portland Trail Blazers.

This will be the Blazers’ first game back from a three-game Eastern Conference road trip. They dropped each of the games on their trip, and have an extensive injury report.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (29-21) at Porland Trail Blazers (23-26)

Where: Moda Center – Portland, OR

When: Sun., Feb. 1 at 9 PM

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass

Point spread: Cavs -3

Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Craig Porter Jr. – QUESTIONABLE (knee), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruna – QUESTIONABLE (G League),

Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis aren’t on the injury report, but they wouldn’t be expected to play in this one.

Trail Blazers injury report: Deni Avdija – QUESTIONABLE (back), Scoot Henderson – OUT (hamstring), Jrue Holiday – OUT (personal), Damian Lillard – OUT (Achilles), Kris Murray – OUT (back), Duop Reath – OUT (foot), Matisse Thybulle – OUT (knee), Blake Wesley – QUESTIONABLE (foot), Robert Williams – QUESTIONABLE (knee)

Cavs expected starting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

Trail Blazers expected starting lineup: Caleb Love, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan

Previous matchup: The Cavs lost their first meeting 122-110 in Dec.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	117.2 (10th)	114.3 (11th)	+2.8 (11th)
Trail Blazers	113.4 (24h)	116 (19th)	-2.7 (22nd)

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Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-i...l-blazers-how-to-watch-odds-and-injury-report

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

10 Takeaways from Cavs 130-111 win over Trail Blazers: Jarrett Allen couldn’t be stoped

PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 01: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on February 01, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up their sixth win in their last seven games thanks to a 40-ball from Jarrett Allen that helped lead them past the Portland Trail Blazers 130-111.

Allen is incredibly skilled offensively. His footwork, touch around the rim, quickness, and passing are advanced for someone at his position. That was on display as he ran around, over, and through Portland’s hapless center, Donovan Clingan, all evening.

The 40-point performance is what’s going to get the headlines, but the variety of ways Allen was able to score is what was most impressive.

He was a force in transition, beating his man down the floor. This created easy baskets if the defense forgot about him, and also allowed him to get smaller defenders caught in deep seals. This created driving lanes for others, as there are very few things that disrupt a defense as much as a mismatch right at the start of a possession.

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Allen also consistently made the right move out of dribble-hand-offs. If his defender gave him room, Allen created space for the guard. If the center came up, Allen went around him for the drive to the hoop.

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Then, there was the pick-and-roll game. He found ways to finish and create space for the ball handler in those situations. The vertical spacing he provides is incredibly valuable when the team is down two of its top scorers.

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And lastly, Allen just did a good job of scoring on the block. He displayed his post moves, using up-and-unders and hook shots, to create angles inside.

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Overall, it was just a completely dominant offensive showing from Allen, who did all of this in under 30 minutes and registered five assists as well.

As if the 40-ball wasn’t enough, Allen was also the best defender on the court. He completely controlled the glass with 17 rebounds, had four rejections, and added two steals just for fun. His defensive effort buoyed the Cavs on a night they started a little helter-skelter on that end.

Allen put up one of the most ridiculous stat lines in NBA history. I’m generally not a fan of cherry-picked stats, but you can tell if one is good based on the company of the other people in the club. And if you’re a center, you want to be in any group that features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.

The only @NBA players EVER to record 40+ PTS, 17+ REB, 5+ AST, 4+ BLK and 2+ STL in a game:

JARRETT ALLEN (TONIGHT at POR)***
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12/13/75 at PHX)
Joe Barry Carroll (2/1/87 vs. NJN)
Shaquille O'Neal (3/23/01 vs. WAS)
Joel Embiid (2/19/21 vs. CHI)#LetEmKnow

— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) February 2, 2026

Games like this show how good Allen is, but also why his typical inconsistent play can be so infuriating. It’s fair to point out that Portland isn’t exactly built to stop Allen. Their defense wasn’t disciplined, which allowed someone who was steadily and consistently executing to have a big night. But that doesn’t account for all of Allen’s success.

We’ve consistently seen that Allen is at his best when Evan Mobley is unavailable. Allen’s most impressive stretch of basketball as a Cavalier came in the 2023-24 season with Mobley out of the lineup. And now, we’re seeing that again in a similar situation.

This would be explainable if it were simply that Allen’s offensive game doesn’t mesh with Mobley’s. And while it’s true that Allen now has much more room to operate offensively, he also plays just over half of his minutes each game with Mobley when both are available. The duo is playing an average of 15.4 minutes a night together. Overall, Allen is averaging 27.1 minutes per game.

If it were simply a spacing issue, we should see some version of this Allen when Mobley is on the bench. However, the difference is more so in how Allen seems to approach the game when he’s the only center.

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Allen plays with much more force and aggression when Mobley is unavailable. His skill set requires him to play that way to be effective. A center coasting through games isn’t going to have the necessary impact on either end of the floor. Their presence needs to be felt at all times if they’re mostly a paint-bound big.

I’m not sure how you get around this issue. Force-feeding Allen early in games would help. It’s certainly something the team should be prioritizing. But it’s also true that Allen’s effort shouldn’t be dependent on who’s in or out of the lineup. He’s far too good a player to have his energy fluctuate so dramatically on a night-to-night basis.

Ultimately, that’s only something Allen can fix.

Sam Merrill’s shooting can open up the game for everyone else. He went 6-8 from beyond the arc. This went a long way in Cleveland, finishing the game going 16-34 (47.1%) from three.

The havoc Merrill causes when he shoots this well is incredibly helpful for an offense. Defenders were closing out incredibly hard every time Merrill came off a screen. This led to him having four assists and helped open up lanes inside for his teammates.

It’s no surprise the Cavs had a 141.3 offensive rating when Merrill was on the floor. That number tied Allen for the highest mark on the team. Merrill playing this well simply unlocks the entire offensive attack.

Craig Porter Jr. continues to have an impact as a facilitator. He didn’t look to score, but was able to get his teammates involved by picking up a career-high 12 assists.

Porter’s feel for the game was on complete display. He did a great job of finding the open man by making the simple, correct pass time after time. This included hitting Allen in the pick-and-roll, Jaylon Tyson in the short roll, and Merrill coming off screens.

The Cavs needed someone to provide extra playmaking duties while they wait for Dennis Schroder to join them for Wednesday’s game. Porter more than stepped up on Sunday.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...cleveland-cavaliers-jarrett-allen-sam-merrill