Cavaliers Weigh Mid-Tier Deals While Holding Firm on Jarrett Allen
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The Cleveland Cavaliers, sitting at 16-14 after last season’s 64-18 finish, are facing mounting pressure from owner Dan Gilbert to reverse their slow start, according to multiple reports dated December 22, 2025.
League sources told Wine and Gold Talk host Chris Fedor (Cleveland.com) that the front office has not entertained offers for All-Star guard Darius Garland or center Jarrett Allen. Cleveland is reportedly hesitant to move Allen because injuries and a down year would depress his value, and management remains higher on the 27-year-old than most rival clubs.
Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal noted that the Pacers, Knicks and Raptors have expressed interest in adding a center, yet one team source insisted Cleveland would need an “irresistible” return to send Allen to an Eastern Conference opponent.
Mid-salary players drawing interest
On the same podcast, Fedor identified forwards De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus, guard Lonzo Ball and swingman Dean Wade as the most likely Cavaliers to be shopped if the organization opts for smaller moves. Strus has yet to debut while recovering from offseason foot surgery, and Hunter, Ball and Wade are all struggling through the opening two months.
Ball carries a $10 million team option for 2026-27, while Wade is on a $6 million expiring deal, making both contracts easier to trade than the larger, guaranteed salaries owed to Hunter and Strus next season, Fedor said.
Afseth added that Wade, a seven-year Cavalier known for defense and a career 36.0% three-point mark, has emerged as a name to watch despite hitting just 29.0% from deep in 27 games this year.
Coaching scrutiny intensifies
Marc Stein reported Sunday that head coach Kenny Atkinson, last season’s NBA Coach of the Year, could be dismissed if the club continues to falter. Afseth echoed that sentiment, citing internal questions about Atkinson’s leadership. Should a change occur, star guard Donovan Mitchell is said to favor assistant Johnnie Bryant as interim coach. Bryant, a close confidant of Mitchell, was a finalist for the Suns’ head-coaching vacancy over the summer before Phoenix hired Jordan Ott.
No front-office timetable for trades or coaching decisions has been disclosed, but league insiders expect Cleveland to gauge the market in the coming weeks as the February deadline approaches.
Source: Hoops Rumors
