Cavs Questions: Robinson's Out, Three Players Targeting the…

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 15

Jaxson Robinson is off the team six days after signing a camp deal, and Cleveland's preseason is officially over at 1-2. The opener at Philadelphia on Oct. 22 is the next real deadline, with three hurt players all pointed at that date to return.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What happened with Jaxson Robinson?

Robinson signed a camp deal on Oct. 9, the same day as Noam Yaacov. Six days later, on Oct. 15, he left the team. No word yet on why or what it means for the final roster spots. Yaacov, signed the same day, is still with the club.

Who's still hurt heading into the opener?

Sam Merrill (right elbow), Nae'Qwan Tomlin (back) and Khalifa Diop (left knee) are all listed with the same target return date: Oct. 22, the regular-season opener at Philadelphia. James Harden, who had an ankle scare, was cleared on Oct. 11 and looked fine doing it, scoring 24 in the preseason win over Orlando.

What does this roster cost?

Cleveland's payroll sits at $209.0 million, above the $200.4 million luxury tax line. Donovan Mitchell's deal runs $50.1 million, matching Evan Mobley's, with Harden at $30.6 million, Jarrett Allen at $28.0 million and Peyton Watson at $20.5 million behind them. The group is built to win now, not to save money.

What's left in the draft pipeline?

Not much that's fully Cleveland's. The 2027, 2028 and 2029 first-round picks are all tied to swaps, and the second-rounders in those years are owed to Chicago, Utah and Atlanta. The 2030 first is the only pick on the board that's entirely the Cavaliers' own.

The verdictCleveland enters the real season nine days out with a roster still shifting and three bodies aimed at the same return date. The payroll says win now; the picks say there's no plan B if it doesn't.

When do the Cavaliers play their first regular-season game?

Oct. 22 at the Philadelphia 76ers, airing on ESPN.

Is Jaxson Robinson still on the Cavaliers?

No. He signed a camp deal on Oct. 9 and left the team on Oct. 15.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.