The Cleveland Cavaliers are being pegged for a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference next season, at least according to former Cavs center Kendrick Perkins.
Perkins has the Wine and Gold landing behind LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3, then the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Cleveland. He rounded out the rest of the conference with the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic.
That prediction comes with Cleveland still carrying real momentum from last season. The Cavaliers got past Toronto and Detroit to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 without LeBron on the roster, only to run into the Knicks, who had just won the 2026 championship over the San Antonio Spurs and then swept Cleveland in the conference finals.
This summer, Cleveland addressed a major need by bringing in Watson, a small forward after LeBron left for the Philadelphia 76ers and Dean Wade followed him to Philadelphia. Watson arrives off a strong season with the Nuggets, where he put up 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from 3-point range and 73.0% from the line. He’s described as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
The Cavaliers signed Watson to a four-year, $88 million deal that includes a player option and a trade kicker.
The biggest move of Cleveland’s offseason, though, was locking up Mitchell on a four-year, $273 million maximum extension. Since arriving from the Utah Jazz in 2022, Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cavaliers uniform.
Cleveland opens next season in Philadelphia against LeBron and the 76ers, a matchup that should bring plenty of energy right away.
The question hanging over this group is simple: can a core of Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Mobley and Allen get all the way to a championship? Soon enough, we’ll start getting answers.
In Other News...
Cavs Pipeline Added A Guard Worth Watching Closely
The Cavaliers development pipeline picked up another intriguing backcourt piece this week when the Cleveland Charge landed guard Kadary Richmond in a four-team trade that also sent Malaki Branham to the Osceola Magic. Richmond has already gotten a small taste of the NBA this season with the Washington Wizards, but most of his work came with the Capital City Go-Go, where he showed a well-rounded game as a lead guard and kept himself on the radar.
For Cleveland, the move is about more than just adding depth. Richmond gives the Charge another guard worth evaluating in a system that has become an important part of the organizations bigger picture, and the deal also brought back a 2027 first-round G-League draft pick. The real question now is how quickly Richmond can carve out a role and turn a fresh opportunity into something that matters for the Cavs long-term guard inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Broadcast News Leaves One Franchise Voice In Question
The Cavaliers new multi-year broadcast agreement with DAZN brings a fresh look to how fans will follow the team, and the club made sure to identify the on-air personalities set to be part of the arrangement. It is a notable shift for a franchise that has long treated its television and game-day voices as part of the teams identity, especially with a familiar cast expected to carry the new setup forward.
Austin Carrs name, though, was absent from the announcement, leaving one of the most recognizable figures in Cavaliers broadcast history in an uncertain spot. Carr has been a longtime franchise voice, and with no official statement clarifying any change, his role in the new era remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Big Man Is Getting One More NBA Chance
The 76ers have brought Tacko Fall back into the NBA mix ahead of the new season, giving the towering center another chance to stick at the highest level. Fall spent the 2021-22 season with the Cavaliers, and since then he has continued his career overseas while waiting for another door to open in the league.
At 7-foot-6, Fall remains one of the most recognizable big men in basketball, with his size and shot-blocking still the traits that keep him in the conversation. Philadelphia is now the latest team willing to take a look, and for a player who has bounced between opportunities, the challenge is the same as ever: turn a fresh signing into a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]