Report: More players now consider Cavs desirable destination amid recent success

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently revealed that multiple agents have told him that players want to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

One of the reasons for players wanting to come to Cleveland reportedly is that they know that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will pay them.

“Something interesting has happened this year with the Cavs,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. “I’ve had multiple agents tell me that their players want to play in Cleveland.”

Windhorst continued.

“Part of it is because they know Dan Gilbert will spend money, and that if they trade for their client, their client can get paid. Part of it is they like the way the Cavs are playing and stuff like that. But that is an indication to me that they’re being well received. The way that they’re playing is being very well received.”

The Cavs are off to a great start in the 2024-25 season, winning 33 of their first 38 games. They currently hold the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and have a 5.5-game lead on the Boston Celtics (the No. 2 seed).

Cleveland decided to keep the core of its roster intact this past offseason, extending the contracts of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Those moves have paid off, as the Cavs have the best record in the NBA under new head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Mobley has taken a major step forward in his fourth NBA season, averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. The former No. 3 overall pick is attempting 2.8 3-pointers per game (the most of his career), and that has helped the Cavs space the floor better on offense.

Cleveland could be a team that is active at the trade deadline if it feels that it needs to upgrade its roster. Players like Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert and Max Strus have salaries that the Cavs could consider putting together to make a major trade.

However, it’s possible Cleveland will keep this roster together given how strong it has started the 2024-25 season.

Since it seems that players are interested in playing in Cleveland, the Cavs may have more options available to them in free agency and in the trade market in the coming offseason. For now, the Cavs are focused on making a deep playoff run behind Mitchell, Darius Garland, Mobley and Allen.