The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the NBA’s most expensive rosters, with five starting players taking up almost all of their salary caps.
The Cleveland Cavaliers rose to the nominee in an incredible way last season. I didn’t think they were strong enough to be under coach Kenny Atkinson.
And while their playoff execution ended with disappointment, there is a cause of optimism as the Cavaliers solidified themselves as Eastern title challengers.
Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are their favorites to leave the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals.
And given how expensive the Cavaliers roster is, it’s exactly where it should be, with four All-Star Caliber players winning big bucks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the most expensive roster in the NBA today, with a whopping $228.9 million total salary.
This is what the Cleveland Cavaliers pay looks like:
| player | 2025-26 Salary |
| Donovan Mitchell | $46,394,100 |
| Evan Mobley | $46,394,100 |
| Darius Garland | $39,446,090 |
| de ‘other hunters | $23,303,571 |
| Jarrett Allen | $20,000,000 |
| Max Strath | $15,936,452 |
| Lonzo Ball | $10,000,000 |
| Sam Merrill | $8,482,144 |
| Dean Wade | $6,623,456 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | $3,634,153 |
| Jaylon Tyson | $3,492,480 |
| Craig Porter | $2,221,677 |
| Tyro’s Proctor | $1,272,870 |
| Luke Travers (Bi-way) | $636,435 |
| Nae’qwon Tomlin (Bi-way) | $636,435 |
| Ricky Rubio (Dead Money) | $424,672 |
| total | $228,898,634 |
Don’t get it wrong – the Cleveland Cavaliers are the most complete aspect of the Eastern Conference heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
The New York Knicks’ roster is very strong and has made some great additions in the offseason, but their team has some weaknesses, especially in the center spot.
When it comes to the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, their team is relatively new and untested, which is why there are still questions marks surrounding the opportunity.
If Western Conference is equipped to compete with the best it has to offer in the NBA Finals, it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers.