The Cleveland Cavaliers look built to contend in the Eastern Conference again next season, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen at the center of it all. But one of the sharper warnings around this roster has nothing to do with star power - it’s about what happens when the backcourt gets thin.
ESPN’s Jamal Collier flagged that as a potential problem for Cleveland, arguing that the Cavaliers could run into real trouble if Harden or Mitchell is forced to miss extended time. He pointed to a roster that has already lost depth in recent years and noted that Dennis Schroder, entering his 14th season, was Cleveland’s only primary backup ballhandler in the postseason.
Collier also said the Cavaliers had issues in the playoffs simply trying to get Harden and Mitchell enough rest. Both players were carrying too much of the offensive load, and that strain showed when Cleveland needed someone else to steady things.
Still, he framed the backcourt shortage as one part of a larger list of questions hanging over the team. Collier wrote, "The Cavs might have more pressing concerns -- the small forward position, depth, Harden's playoff woes and wondering how much of Evan Mobley's potential will be real or just tantalizing -- but their lack of backcourt depth could be a sneaky undoing if Schroder is not up to the task of sharing the workload."
The warning comes after a rough stretch for Cleveland. The New York Knicks, who won the 2026 championship against the San Antonio Spurs, swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Since then, Cleveland has also lost Dean Wade, Keon Ellis and Larry Nance Jr.
The offseason got even tougher when franchise legend LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers instead of returning home.
Cleveland has since added Mario Hezonja, but the front office is still searching for more help. The Cavaliers are trying to land either Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets or Jonathan Kuminga. Watson is a restricted free agent, while Kuminga is unrestricted.
Kuminga spent last season with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks, averaging 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 72.4% from the line. He also played for Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson in Golden State.
Watson’s numbers last season with the Nuggets were even more eye-catching: 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, along with shooting splits of 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from deep and 73.0% at the free-throw line. He’s described as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
Only time will tell.
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Watson remains the type of long-term wing Cleveland has been hunting, but the deal is complicated by his desire for a multi-year contract with a steep annual price tag. That makes this more than a simple talent pursuit for the Cavs, because landing him likely means reshaping the roster and finding a partner in Denver willing to help push the transaction across the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
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Meleek Thomas Is Suddenly In The Middle Of A Cavs Roster Question
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Now the question is what comes next for Thomas in a backcourt that still has some sorting out to do. He looks like the kind of guard who could carve out a real early role, but his path to steady minutes will depend on how the Cavs roster settles around him. If things break the right way, he could be in line for a meaningful reserve job right away. [Read more 🡒]