Mar 7, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) walks off after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

'No One’s Going to Give a Damn' – Former Cleveland Cavaliers Big Has Lofty Expectations for the Team Next Season

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Aug 14, 2025 7:26 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter 2025-26 with higher expectations following their 64-win regular season last campaign, especially after their second-round exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs.

According to former Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins, the team must advance at least to the Eastern Conference Finals next season, considering their collective firepower, led by Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley , Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen.

“And they should be the favorites, right? And that’s why I said, unfortunately, whatever they do in the regular season, they could win 70 games; no one’s going to give a damn,” Perkins said on NBA Today.

Nov 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (left), forward Evan Mobley (4), guard Donovan Mitchell (center right), and forward Dean Wade (32) cheer on their team in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Allison Farrand-USA TODAY Sports

“They’re going to be– we’re going to evaluate them, what they do in the postseason– because, again, a Donovan Mitchell-led team has never been to a conference finals,” he added.

Cleveland Cavaliers insider pours cold water on the idea of altering the starting lineup next season

Cleveland Cavaliers beat writer Chris Fedor recently suggested that the team should maintain its starting lineup, with Max Strus as the starting small forward rather than the more talented De’Andre Hunter.

Mar 16, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles beside Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter (12) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

“Whether it was as an assistant or the two stints as head coach, Atkinson has always had a player like Strus. At least, stylistically… While Hunter is probably more talented, he is not the better stylistic fit, and there is no hard and fast rule that the team’s five best players must be in the starting group together,” Fedor wrote in his mailbag article, responding to a fan.

“Wouldn’t it be better for the Cavs, who lost steady sixth man Ty Jerome, to have a prolific scorer coming off the bench?” he added.