The Cavaliers’ offseason has started to move with real purpose, and the ripple effects are already clear across the roster. What began as a slow burn has turned into a reshaped wing group, a deeper bench and a few players suddenly sitting in much better - or much trickier - spots.
Sam Merrill is one of the biggest winners in the bunch. The sharpshooter, who also brings elite charge-taking ability, is back in line to play a major role as Cleveland’s 6th/7th man next season. After earning every bit of the $39 million contract he signed in the summer of 2025, he followed it up with a career year.
Just as important, he’s still in Cleveland at all. Merrill’s name came up plenty in trade talk, so keeping him in the fold matters.
He’s the kind of player who keeps a defense guessing with nonstop movement, and he helps juice a guard’s assist numbers. Both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell will have inflated states because of #5’s presence.
Merrill should have a chance to build on a season in which he averaged 13 points per game, and the Cavs were 37-15 when he played last year.
There’s a clear loser on the depth chart in Craig Porter Jr. He’s entering his fourth year with the team and still doesn’t have a defined role. For most of his time in Cleveland, he’s bounced in and out of the rotation without ever settling in.
That problem only gets worse now. With Meleek Thomas in the fold and Tyrese Proctor having a major summer, there doesn’t seem to be a path to regular minutes. Porter Jr. will keep grinding for chances, but they may not come often.
The Cavaliers head coach is also coming out ahead. Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja give him new pieces to work with, and that matters for a team trying to get back to 2024-25 level. His teams have long been strong offensively, and the additions should help.
There’s also more size on the roster now, something that has been missing. Atkinson does enter the season with pressure after the ECF collapse, but the front office has at least given him more to play with.
That opens the door for fresh looks, new actions and a different way to deploy the group. How he folds Watson into the mix will be one of the more interesting parts of the season.
Jaylon Tyson lands in the loser category only because the roster around him got better. The same logic applies to Porter Jr. The rising third-year forward had a strong regular season last year, with several nights that suggested he could be a real NBA starter.
But Peyton Watson’s arrival effectively closes the door on a starting job for Tyson on a healthy roster. His 39-point game against the Sixers showed what he can do, but now he’ll likely have to settle into a reserve role alongside Sam Merrill.
He should be ready to shake off the playoff cobwebs, but there’s no question this changes his outlook. The starting spot is gone, and that means extra work ahead.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Sent Another Clear Message About Rocket Arenas Future
The Cavaliers have added another piece to their growing footprint around downtown Cleveland, buying a former bar at 721 Bolivar Road in the Gateway District for $1 million. The property sits in an area that has become increasingly important to the teams long-term planning, especially as Rocket Arena and the surrounding blocks continue to draw attention beyond game nights.
The purchase also fits a broader pattern around the district, where nearby property moves by the Guardians have helped signal how much value teams now place on controlling the land around their venues. After a season that kept the Cavaliers in the conversation and with the next one on the horizon, the latest acquisition only adds to the sense that the organization is thinking well beyond the court and into what comes next for the building and its neighborhood. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Added A Wild Card For Their Crowded Bench Rotation
The Cavaliers have added another name to an already crowded bench picture, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract as training camp competition starts to take shape. It is the kind of low-risk move that gives Cleveland another experienced option to sort through while the team tries to settle the back end of its rotation, and Hezonja will have a chance to earn a spot if he can prove he belongs.
For a team that has spent the offseason balancing depth, fit and flexibility, the signing fits the broader search for help around the edges of the roster. The Cavaliers are not handing out a guaranteed role, but they are giving themselves another look at a player who could make the bench conversation more complicated if he finds his footing quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Last Roster Spot Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
With training camp drawing closer, the Cavaliers last few roster decisions have taken on more importance than a typical end-of-summer cleanup. Cleveland waived forward Cam Whitmore and now has two guaranteed contracts left to hand out, all while working with limited salary cap space and trying to strengthen the frontcourt depth behind its core.
One option under consideration is Saliou Niang, a 2025 second-round pick whose rights the Cavaliers control. Niang has spent time playing overseas and is also tied up with LSU and international competition, which adds another layer to a front office already sorting through timing, availability and fit. For a team still looking to add size before camp opens, the final move may end up being less about filling a seat and more about finding the right kind of big man at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]