The Cavaliers’ path into the 2026-27 season starts with a familiar idea: keep the core together, trust the top-end talent, and see if that group can push Cleveland from contender to champion.
After getting to the Eastern Conference Finals and falling to the New York Knicks, the Cavs are still trying to close the gap. The conference around them has shifted, too.
New York’s win over the San Antonio Spurs made history, and other teams have spent the offseason loading up. The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers have added stars, which only raises the pressure on everyone else in the East.
Cleveland, by comparison, has been quiet. The roster hasn’t changed much, but the biggest names remain in place, and that matters. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are still there, and that alone gives the Cavaliers a foundation that can carry them through a long season.
At the top of the lineup, Cleveland is built around two All-Star guards. James Harden, acquired in February, is the lead facilitator, and Mitchell slots in at shooting guard after averaging 27.9 points last season. With a full year together, that pairing is expected to drive the offense as the Cavaliers chase a title.
The frontcourt gives Cleveland a little more flexibility, and maybe a few decisions still to come. The team has been tied to free agent wings Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson, with Kuminga originally the top target after the Cavaliers missed out on LeBron James. Watson, also 23, entered the mix later, but Cleveland is among the teams pursuing him.
For now, the small forward spot looks like it could go a couple different ways. Jaylon Tyson made a real case for himself last season, appearing in 66 games and starting 42.
He averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and heading into his third season, he looks capable of taking on a bigger role. He may end up in the starting five, though a veteran could still claim that job.
Max Strus is the other name to watch there. He missed most of the season, but after returning, he played 12 games and started five.
He averaged 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds overall, and he had some memorable playoff moments, including 24 points in the first game against the Toronto Raptors. If he’s back, he could easily work his way into the starting group, even if Tyson is the more likely option.
Evan Mobley and Jarett Allen handle the other two frontcourt spots. Mobley, the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, is listed at power forward, though he also shifts to center when needed, including when Allen is sidelined.
Mobley averaged 18.2 points and nine rebounds, and the 25-year-old big man is still viewed as someone who can take another step. The 2026-27 season gives him another chance to make that jump.
Allen remains Cleveland’s anchor inside. He had a solid year, and the Cavaliers are counting on his post play to stay steady all season long. His ability to stay on the floor and keep producing is a big part of how this team holds up.
The bench has a veteran feel to it. Dennis Schröder is Harden’s backup and could be on the move, but if he stays, he brings scoring punch. Sam Merrill, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Craig Porter Jr. are also in line to contribute, and the Cavaliers added Mario Hezonja, who could factor in as well.
There’s still work to be done, but with the group Cleveland has right now, this team has enough pieces to compete throughout the season.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Could Be Preparing Dennis Schroder For A Bigger Offseason Move
Dennis Schroder arrived in Cleveland midway through the 2025-26 season and quickly became the sort of veteran backcourt piece teams value in a pinch, a versatile backup point guard with experience across 11 NBA teams. For the Cavaliers, his presence has been useful on the floor, but his name now appears to be part of a broader roster conversation as the front office looks ahead.
What makes the situation notable is that Cleveland is not simply weighing Schroder as an individual move, but as part of a larger effort to reconfigure the roster and create room to maneuver. The Cavaliers are exploring trade packages around him with an eye toward adding financial flexibility, the kind that can shape the rest of an offseason even before the market fully opens. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Are Chasing One More Offseason Move And It Could Matter
The Cavaliers still have one more offseason lane to explore as they look to round out a roster built to contend in the East. After doing most of their heavy lifting already, Cleveland remains tied to the market for restricted free agents, with Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson both on the radar as possible ways to add length and upside without changing the teams core identity.
There is also a financial layer to the search, since Cleveland is still weighing trade possibilities involving Dennis Schroder in an effort to open up more room to operate. For a team that has tried to balance immediate expectations with future flexibility, the next move may not be the splashiest one on the board, but it could end up shaping how far the Cavaliers can push their offseason plans. [Read more 🡒]