Five questions for the Cleveland Cavaliers

Mobley's big raise, plus Donovan Mitchell's $11M raise on his extension, will send the Cavaliers into the second luxury tax apron, restricting their ability to make trades and signings. Will the team try to cut payroll?

2. Will they stick with their All-Star backcourt?

Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland had excellent seasons, but their lack of size was exploited in their second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. Mitchell is generously listed at 6-foot-3, while Garland is 6-foot-1, which presented a defensive challenge facing Indiana's much taller trio of Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, who are 6-foot-4 or taller.

Mitchell and Garland's scoring often overcomes this, especially in the regular season, but it doesn't help that small forward Max Strus is only 6-foot-5. Don't expect the Garland-Mitchell pairing to break up, but the team needs more, and bigger, perimeter defenders.

3. What will they do with their small forward position?

Cleveland is paying small forwards Strus, De'Andre Hunter and Isaac Okoro over $53M next season, with all three players signed through 2026-27. One or more of these players is a likely trade piece if the Cavaliers want to upgrade, cut money or get bigger players. Strus is the best shooter, Okoro is the best defender and Hunter is the most well-rounded, but expensive. However, the Cavs aren't getting $53M of production from this position.

4. Do they bring back Ty Jerome?

Ty Jerome had a breakthrough season, scoring 12.5 points in 20 minutes per game and finishing third in the Sixth Man of the Year vote (Hunter finished fourth). Now he's in line for a raise from his $2.5M salary. Can the Cavaliers afford him when he became almost unplayable against the Pacers?

5. Can the Cavaliers find help late in the draft?

The Cavaliers don't have a first-round pick in 2025, but they have two late second-rounders. They own first-rounders in 2027 and 2029, and pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. That means if they want affordable reinforcements, they'll have to draft wisely — and get more from last year's No. 20 overall pick, Jaylon Tyson.