NBA Futures Draft: Are the Cleveland Cavaliers FINISHED? Caleb Wilson and Bulls IGNITE

August 23, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Chicago Bulls are betting on Caleb Wilson as their franchise cornerstone, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are already capped out with a payroll that will pay Donovan Mitchell $75 million in three years. Those are two of the sharper judgments in this second installment of an NBA futures draft, where hosts Gavin Shaw and Kukahel take turns selecting teams they'd most want to own for the next five years. The exercise forces hard choices between current title equity and long-term flexibility, and the conversation reveals where each host thinks the league is headed.

Why the Cavaliers are a "do not touch"

Kukahel moved Cleveland into his "stay away" tier, and Gavin agreed. The problem is not short-term wins—the Cavs will likely average close to 50 wins over the next five seasons. The problem is ceiling and cap sheet. Donovan Mitchell will make $65.7 million in two years, $70.6 million the year after, then $75.3 million. Evan Mobley will be earning $57.5 million and $61.2 million in those same seasons. James Harden, meanwhile, is signed into his late 30s at around $35 million per year. The hosts do not believe Mitchell is a championship-caliber number one option. They also think Mobley and Jarrett Allen are a poor offensive fit together, and the team has never added the credible third big they have needed for years. The math is simple: if you don't think this core can win a titl

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What you'll learn

1 (01:05) **Part Two of the NBA Futures Draft Begins** - The hosts recap the teams already drafted in part one and set the stage for the remaining picks.
2 (03:16) **Kuka Selects the Washington Wizards** - He bets on the Wizards' future, anchored by number one pick AJ Dybantsa.
3 (05:31) **Gavin Takes the Philadelphia 76ers** - He overcomes his negative bias to pick Philly, betting on talent despite injury risk.
4 (08:01) **Kuka Picks the Houston Rockets** - He bets on Amen Thompson's star potential as the core of Houston's future.
5 (11:07) **Ad Break** - A commercial break for FanDuel and Celsius.
6 (12:56) **Gavin Selects the Memphis Grizzlies** - He makes a "higher upside" pick, betting on the development of Cameron Boozer and the team's future assets.
7 (15:43) **Kuka Picks the Chicago Bulls** - He likes the team's new direction, centered on Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gavin Shaw

Show Notes

On today’s Locked On NBA Game Night we discuss the NBA Futures Draft, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Amen Thompson, and NBA teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics.

Gavin Schall and Ku Khahil continue their NBA Futures Draft, reviewing their picks so far and recapping the top teams with the brightest five-year outlooks.

The hosts debate the upside of the Washington Wizards after landing the number 1 pick and discuss the Philadelphia 76ers’ balance of championship potential with concerns about Joel Embiid’s health.

The conversation moves to young cores like the Houston Rockets, with a focus on Amen Thompson’s superstar potential, and the Memphis Grizzlies, highlighted for their deep draft assets and upside. The Chicago Bulls are evaluated for their new youth movement and reset around prospects like Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, while the Orlando Magic’s trajectory is weighed against roster fit issues between Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.

Miami’s future is examined through the lens of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s longevity and championship potential, and the Charlotte Hornets’ new direction without LaMelo Ball is analyzed. The episode closes with an exploration of why teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers may be limited by their ceiling despite strong five-year projections.

Timestamps

0:00 Wizards vs NBA Futures Draft

6:21 76ers vs NBA Futures Draft

8:36 Rockets vs NBA Futures Draft

13:20 Grizzlies vs NBA Futures Draft

15:49 Bulls vs NBA Futures Draft

18:21 Magic vs NBA Futures Draft

21:22 Heat vs NBA Futures Draft

25:01 Hornets vs NBA Futures Draft

28:33 Hawks vs NBA Futures Draft

32:52 Cavaliers vs NBA Futures Draft

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