When the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022, the primary motivation behind that move was to, of course, win a title.
In the first season with Mitchell, they finished fourth in the East (after finishing ninth the season before) but didn't advance past the first round. The following season (2023-24), they finished fourth again and made it to the semifinals but came up short. In 2024-25, Cleveland secured the top seed in the East after a historic season, but yet again, lost in the semifinals.
With the East wide open this season after the Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton injuries, it felt like this year would be when the Cavaliers made their championship run.