Cavs Reportedly Don't Have NBA Title or Bust 'Mandate' to Justify Salary Cap Spending

The Cleveland Cavaliers are above the dreaded second apron, a salary cap threshold that most NBA organizations avoid unless they are true contenders. Even then, most teams don't want to stay above the second apron for multiple seasons in a row, if possible.

But Cleveland reportedly won't allow the second apron to shorten its contention window.

According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, "The Cavs aren't working under any type of mandate, according to league sources. There is no demand that they must win a title or make the Finals to justify the long-term price tag. In fact, the front office is operating today knowing that if it falls short of its goals this season, keeping the core together, remaining above the second apron and gunning for a 2027 title is a distinct possibility."

Now if the Cavaliers fall short of a title yet again this season, there will be questions about whether the core four of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen is capable of taking them over the hump.

But if those changes come, it would seemingly be more about getting a better mix of stars than ducking the second apron.