Cleveland Cavaliers face financial woes after Evan Mobley wins defensive player of the year
- The NBA announced the finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award on April 24, 2025.
- Evan Mobley winning the award would have significant financial ramifications for the Cleveland Cavaliers, limiting their ability to make strategic roster changes.
- The Cavaliers are facing expensive tax bills and must navigate a difficult salary cap situation next season.
On April 24, 2025, the NBA announced the finalists for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award, with notable players such as Dyson Daniels from the Atlanta Hawks, Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors, and Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Draymond Green, who has previously won the award in 2017, is seeking to become one of the few players in league history to win it multiple times. Meanwhile, Mobley, who has shown significant improvement over the season, finished third in voting last year and is recognized for his contributions on defense this season. The award voting was conducted by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters earlier in the same month. The financial implications of Mobley's potential win for the Cavaliers are concerning. Cleveland’s budget for the upcoming season is impacted significantly by Mobley’s expected salary increase, which could add an additional $45 million over five years to their payroll. This situation comes amid a challenging salary cap environment, as the Cavaliers are constrained by the first and second aprons, meaning they won't have access to important exceptions for signing external free agents. As a result, the Cavaliers can only offer minimum-salary contracts to new players, limiting their ability to enhance their roster through free agency. Moreover, Cleveland faces a looming tax bill that exceeds $55 million next year. These financial strains raise questions about the team's future flexibility in trades and acquisitions, made worse by constraints like being unable to aggregate contracts for trades or making future first-round picks moved to lower rounds if the team stays over the second apron. With the NBA’s evolving landscape leading to a projected ‘free-agent recession’, it’s evident that teams, including the Cavaliers, may struggle to keep competitive. Despite the financial challenges posed by Mobley’s potential accolade and new contract, Cleveland aims to retain key players while navigating the complexities of the upcoming financial season. Evaluating the positives and negatives of Mobley's award will be crucial for the Cavaliers as they prepare for the future and aim for success in the league.