The Cavaliers open preseason Thursday night at Rocket Arena, and the first test comes against a Celtics team that looks different but still dangerous on paper.
Boston spent the summer reshaping its core. The biggest move sent 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to division rival Philadelphia in a deal that brought back veteran forward Paul George and a package of draft picks.
The Celtics made the swap to clean up their salary situation and add draft capital as they build around All-Star Jayson Tatum. They also added center Mitchell Robinson on a 3-year, $47 million contract, bringing in a proven rebounder from the defending champion New York Knicks.
Even with Brown gone after a career year, Boston still profiles as a team that can stack wins in the regular season. Under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have been one of the league’s most efficient operations, and last year was no different.
They led the NBA by averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game, which helped them consistently get the shots they wanted, especially from deep. The three-point volume can bite them in the playoffs, but over an 82-game schedule, Boston has been built to grind out wins.
Thursday also marks the first look for Celtics fans at Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley in green and white. Jayson Tatum is set for his first preseason action since his Achilles injury in 2025. He finished last season strong after what the source describes as a remarkable recovery, but Boston will need him back at All-NBA First Team level to stay in the mix.
There’s also a different voice leading Boston for the night. Joe Mazzulla said Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay will coach the preseason game against Cleveland. Both were finalists for head coach jobs this summer, and Mazzulla said, “They'll be running the show, and excited for them, and want them to continue to grow.”
For Cleveland, the bigger picture is less about the scoreboard and more about sorting out the edges of the roster. Preseason results don’t carry much weight anyway; the Cavaliers went 0-4 in the preseason last year before ripping off 15 straight wins to start their 64-win run.
The second half should give the Cavaliers a chance to evaluate the players fighting for bench roles. Backup guard minutes are one of the main battles, with Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas all in the mix. Another spot worth watching is backup power forward, where Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Mario Hezonja are competing, with Hezonja drawing attention after a strong training camp.
The listed starters for Boston are Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. Cleveland’s lineup features James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Have Found The Wing Help This Roster Needed
The Cavaliers have added another name to the mix on the wing, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year minimum deal as he looks to make his way back into the NBA after several seasons in Europe. It is a low-risk move, but one that fits neatly into a roster that has been searching for more size, energy and versatility on the perimeter.
Early exhibition play has already given Cleveland something to watch, with Hezonja showing a stronger frame and more burst than he had in his previous NBA run. If that carries over, he could push for a meaningful role and perhaps give the bench a different look than Dean Wade did as a reserve, which would be welcome depth for a team trying to fortify its wings before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Weighed In On James Hardens Cavs Debate
Donovan Mitchell has no interest in letting James Harden be reduced to a ringless talking point. In a recent take on Hardens place in the game, Mitchell argued that the veteran guard is judged too harshly because he has not won an NBA championship, even though his impact has been felt far beyond the trophy case. Mitchell pointed to Hardens influence, passion and work ethic from their time as teammates with the Cavaliers, adding another voice to a debate that tends to flatten a long, accomplished career.
For Cleveland, the bigger picture is that Hardens return comes at a moment when the conversation around him is still loaded with expectations. He recently agreed to a contract extension after being traded from the LA Clippers, keeping his next chapter tied to a team that now has both a high-profile veteran and a former teammate willing to defend his reputation. Whether the outside discourse changes is another matter, but inside the organization, Mitchell made it clear he sees far more in Harden than the missing championship line. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Proctor Just Made Clevelands Guard Battle A Lot More Real
Tyrese Proctor has made the kind of offseason progress that tends to change how a coaching staff views the back end of a rotation. After getting feedback from Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, Proctor leaned into strength training and showed notable physical improvement, a step forward that fits the organizations emphasis on durability and defensive reliability. He has also taken advantage of the chance to learn from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, which adds a little more intrigue to a camp competition that already had a few moving parts.
Now the guard battle is looking a lot more crowded, with Proctor pushing to join Craig Porter Jr. and Meleek Thomas in the mix for backup minutes. The Cavaliers still appear to be sorting through what they want most from that spot, especially on the defensive end, so there is no clean answer yet. But Proctors growth has made this more than a placeholder competition, and that is exactly the kind of development that can linger deep into the preseason. [Read more 🡒]