This post was originally published on this site.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — After another inconsistent stretch and growing concerns about playoff readiness, many are clamoring for a substantial trade before the deadline.
But according to cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor on the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, don’t expect any major shakeups from the front office just yet.
“I think they believe in this group,” Fedor said. “I believe that they believe that they’re better … They’re saying to themselves, we know we haven’t played like a good team, but we still believe we are a good team and we’ll eventually show that we’re a good team.”
This steadfast belief in the current core may frustrate fans anxious for change, but the Cavaliers’ front office approach is more calculated than it might appear.
The organization continues to hold firm in their valuation of cornerstones like Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, even as trade rumors swirl.
“They like Darius, they value Darius, they like Jarrett, they value Jarrett and they think that the value that they bring to this organization is not going to be matched by what they can get in a trade,” Fedor revealed.
The reality is that potential trade partners simply don’t have enough to offer that would definitively make Cleveland better.
Fedor pointed to potential suitors like the Kings and Wizards, wondering aloud: “What do they possibly have to give up to the Cavs that is going to make the Cavs a better basketball team? What do they have? Like Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray and some of these other scraps? Sacramento is 8-24. You want a whole bunch of players from an 8-24 team when you’re chasing a championship?”
Beyond the on-court value proposition, there’s also the human element of making midseason changes to a tight-knit group.
Sands highlighted this overlooked aspect: “Could you imagine what this Cavs team would feel at the trade deadline if they went away from guys that they basically groomed to be the players that they are?
“The other portion of this, Chris, is they recognize how hard it was to get De’Andre Hunter up to speed at the ‘midway point through the season.’ But having to bring in players and then have to say, hey, you’re taking the role of Darius Garland, you’re taking the role of Jarrett Allen. You’re stepping into some huge shoes. We’re not going to have time to acclimate you because we’re not going to have enough practices to do so. Just like what happened with De’Andre Hunter. I think it’s a difficult line that the Cavs are trying to walk because Koby Altman and Mike Gansey and Brandon Weems have to think about not just the basketball, but how these players are going to fit, how the rest of the organization is going to feel.”
Another factor in the front office’s patience is the expected return of Max Strus around the trade deadline, which could provide the boost they’re seeking without disrupting team chemistry. As Sands noted, this could essentially serve as their “trade deadline acquisition.”
While the Cavs acknowledge they haven’t played to their potential, they’re banking on internal improvement rather than external solutions.
The front office believes Garland will find a higher level, Mobley will continue to develop as he gets further from his calf injury, and others like Lonzo Ball will shoot better as the season progresses.
So while fans may be anxious for dramatic changes, the Wine and Gold Talk podcast reveals a front office still committed to their vision – for now. The question remains whether that patience will be rewarded or if their reluctance to shake things up will ultimately cost them in the competitive Eastern Conference race.
Here’s the podcast for this week: