In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast, host Ethan Sands and columnist Jimmy Watkins discuss the current state of the NBA, focusing on the Cavs and their potential challengers in the Eastern Conference.

Larry Nance Jr. is entering his 11th season as he returns to the Cavaliers, with both he and the team hoping for a deeper playoff run in 2025-26.

The Cavs lost an electric bench scorer and a defense-first wing, but gained a reliable veteran point guard and a locker room leader during NBA free agency. Why it matters: The Cavs have one of the most expensive rosters in the league. Navigating the NBA's salary cap restrictions has become a tight-rope act for front offices.

Four teams and three knee surgeries into his career, Ball is due for a break. And we should all be pulling for him.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie 2nd-round draft pick Tyrese Proctor expresses confidence he can complement Cavs guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Tyrese Proctor, drafted for his shooting ability, expects to have the green light Thursday when the Cavs open summer league in Las Vegas. Proctor, 21, is on the summer league roster with Craig Porter Jr. and last year’s #1 pick, Jaylon Tyson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Twenty years ago, Mike Brown was hired as the Cavs’ new head coach. Amend that: Brown was hired as the Cavs’ new head coach on June 2, 2005, for the first time. He came back in 2013, but that’s another story.

The Cavs can still be a strong contender, but they’ve bankrupted public trust in regular-season currency. No one will believe them until they see it in the playoffs.