LeBron James recently opened up about his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting a specific spotlight on the players tasked with leading them forward. He pointed directly to the partnership of big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley as a central storyline for the club.

On the Mind the Game podcast. He stated, “You think about Cleveland, you know, with Allen and Mobley, you know, they have to be able to complement one another.” Prompting co-host Steve Nash to add, “that one’s under a little pressure this year.” With LeBron chipping in, “I think they’re under the most pressure of any team coming into this season.”

This comment highlights the importance of their chemistry for the team’s overall success. The Cavaliers have built their identity around a two-big-man lineup, a somewhat unique approach in the modern NBA.

As Steve Nash and LeBron James pointed out, the Cleveland Cavaliers enter this season carrying massive expectations- and even greater pressure. After a 64-win campaign that saw them finish atop the Eastern Conference under head coach Kenny Akenston, the Cavs proved they could dominate the regular season.

But their shocking five-game exit against the Indiana Pacers in the first round overshadowed that success. Now, all eyes turn to their young core of Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland to see whether they can translate regular-season dominance into real postseason validation.

Jarrett Allen has fully embraced the dynamic with his frontcourt partner. He expressed strong belief in their ability to play together, saying, “I feel like when he was first drafted, there was a lot of questions on whether two big men can work in the modern NBA. But, at this point, I think we proved everybody wrong.”

Allen detailed his personal role in helping Mobley improve, from taking challenging defensive assignments to creating space on offense. Evan Mobley is responding with a career year, averaging personal bests in scoring and three-point attempts.

Jarrett Allen appeared in all 82 games during the regular season, averaging 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 70.6 percent from the field. His efficiency rating led the entire league, cementing his role as one of the most reliable finishers around the rim.​

Meanwhile, Mobley blossomed into a star, averaging career highs of 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 71 games. The fourth-year big man won the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the first player in Cavaliers franchise history to earn that honor.

At just 23 years old, Mobley became only the fifth player in NBA history to win the award before turning 24, joining an elite group that includes Dwight Howard, Jaren Jackson Jr, Alvin Robertson, and Kawhi Leonard.​

The development that silenced doubters most was Mobley’s three-point shooting. He averaged 2.8 attempts per game from beyond the arc while connecting at a 41.8 percent clip during the regular season.

This marked a significant leap from previous years and addressed the spacing concerns when pairing two traditional big men together.

Allen credited his willingness to sacrifice touches to help unlock Mobley’s potential. “Evan has been amazing this year,” Allen noted. “I have always wanted to push him forward, no matter what. Whether it’s taking the toughest assignment on defense so he can shine and have more energy on offense, or just being in the dunker spot so he can have more room. Whatever I have to do to make him the best player so he can unlock this offense and unlock this team, I’m willing to do it.”

However, LeBron’s stance for the Cavs comes at a time when they are under heavy scrutiny for their luxury taxes, about which let’s discuss further.

The $144.5M situation

The Cleveland Cavaliers are staring at a monumental financial decision after a season that has left them deep into the NBA’s luxury tax. The team’s commitment to a winning roster has a steep price tag, creating a significant challenge for the front office this offseason. This situation places the franchise at a critical crossroads.

The Cavaliers finished the season with a payroll that was $38.7 million over the league’s luxury tax threshold. This spending places them in the second apron of the tax, triggering a severe penalty.

The calculated bill for this overspending is a staggering $144.5 million. This figure is not a single fee but the sum of penalties across seven different tax brackets.

This financial penalty is calculated incrementally for every dollar spent over the limit. The team’s salary fell into the seventh and final standard tax bracket. This massive payment is historic for a team that does not qualify as a “repeater” taxpayer, which would have incurred even higher rates.

The cost of maintaining their core group of players has resulted in one of the largest tax bills in league history. This financial burden directly impacts how the team can operate.

Being a second-apron team restricts the Cavaliers’ ability to use valuable tools for adding talent. The organization cannot aggregate player salaries in trades or use certain signing exceptions. These rules penalize high-spending teams and create a more level playing field.

The Cavaliers are one of only three teams projected to be in the second apron for the upcoming season, alongside the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.

Rival teams like the Celtics have already made major trades to shed salary and avoid these harsh restrictions. The Cavs’ current financial commitment makes any significant roster additions through free agency or trade extremely difficult.

Ownership must now decide whether to continue funding this expensive roster or make cost-cutting moves. Letting key free agents walk would reduce the tax bill and make the team less competitive on the court.

Trading players like Isaac Okoro or Dean Wade into other teams’ cap space would offer some financial relief. The final decision will reveal how much the organization will pay for its championship aspirations.