Cleveland, OH — The Cavaliers will begin the offseason with one of the league’s deepest lineups — and one of its costliest. Analyst Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron recently pointed out that Cleveland was the NBA’s lone franchise projecting above the second luxury-tax apron for the 2025-26 season, a threshold that strips away key roster-building tools.
Team executives are now weighing ways to regain flexibility after the club’s first Eastern Conference finals trip since 2018. One scenario involves renegotiating veteran guard James Harden’s deal. Harden is expected to decline his upcoming player option; a new contract carrying a lower annual cap hit could move Cleveland below the second apron and reopen options such as aggregating salaries in trades.
Pistons
Detroit, MI — Cade Cunningham’s breakout year proved even tougher than it looked. According to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press, the 22-year-old played some of his best basketball after suffering a collapsed lung late in the regular season. During the Pistons’ playoff run, the All-NBA First Team guard averaged 28.1 points, 7.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range. Another All-NBA appearance next season would keep him on track for a future designated veteran super-max extension.
Knicks
New York, NY — Josh Hart scored only three points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, yet his fingerprints were all over the Knicks’ 105-95 win over San Antonio. The swingman collected a game-high 15 rebounds, dished six assists and grabbed four steals; New York outscored the Spurs by 22 during his 27 minutes on the court. “He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times as well,” guard Jalen Brunson said.
With the Knicks three victories from a title, Hart’s ability to stuff the box score in every column but points remains a defining storyline.
Source: Hoops Wire
