The Los Angeles Lakers were not the only team exposed as fraudulent contenders in this year’s NBA Playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers were right there with them. Except, in the Cavaliers’ case, it was actually much worse.
The Lakers proved there was much more work to be done in order to build a championship contender around Luka Doncic. Rather, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves who showcased as much when they ousted Los Angeles in just five games.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers did a fantastic job of tricking many into thinking this was finally the year they would put everything together in Cleveland. A 64-18 regular-season record fooled a large group of people into believing this team was bound for a trip to the NBA Finals.
Jobs Not Finished #YesCers pic.twitter.com/MKXUo2IhZ4
— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) May 14, 2025
The Indiana Pacers must have had a good laugh after running circles around the Cavaliers in the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
After another disappointing result from this Cavaliers core, questions around how much longer they stay together will dominate headlines from Cleveland. Rob Pelinka needs to be keeping up to date with all of those during the 2025 offseason.
Cavaliers roster holds another center target for Lakers
For a team with a limited asset pool like the Lakers, picking the scraps off a fresh corpse is an unfortunately necessary practice at times. That would be the case here.
The center conversation is one that is likely tiresome to a lot of fans in Los Angeles. However, it is not one going away until the Lakers have 48 minutes of quality play down low. Jarrett Allen emerges as the next natural inclusion to those talks.
The fit between Allen and rising star Evan Mobley has been under a microscope for a couple of seasons now. If the Cavaliers were to desire a major change to the core this offseason, the conversations of whether Mobley can flourish as the full-time center will be abundant.
Allen would be the natural candidate to be moved of the two, considering the defensive-minded center is the older of the frontcourt pairing, and has likely hit his ceiling, unlike Mobley, who is still believed to be working towards his.
Despite being older of the two, the Cavaliers center is only 27 years old. That would give him plenty of time to have some of his best years playing beside Doncic, serving as a rim runner and defensive anchor.
Allen played all 82 regular-season games and each of the nine playoff games for the Cavaliers this season. That would be a comforting presence to rely on in the lineup.
A chance to steal a key free agent
Despite the need for big man help dominating most of the attention in Los Angeles, bench scoring and depth will be key areas to address as well. Ty Jerome could provide that.
Jerome is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the 2025 offseason. After setting himself up for a big pay day following a strong regular season, the soon-to-be free agent point guard could have probably heard the money falling out of his pocket during an underwhelming series against the Pacers.
Jerome possesses a good scoring punch, reliable spacing and shooting ability, plus good size for the position. The Lakers would be jumping for joy at the opportunity to upgrade from a regrettable Gabe Vincent signing.
If teams around the league find Jerome too risky of an investment, Los Angeles can swoop in and secure the services of a well-fitting guard through the use of their mid-level exception.
One way or another, the Cavaliers should have the Lakers’ close attention. The fallout from a much more disappointing team than Los Angeles should be music to the ears of a potential buyer like Pelinka.