The Cleveland Cavaliers are suddenly looking a lot less like an elite team and a lot more like one trying to figure itself out.
At 4-4, Cleveland has already slid in Bleacher Report’s view. Andy Bailey had the Cavaliers at No. 9 in his preseason power rankings, but after eight games he dropped them to No. 14.
That fall comes with some ugly moments attached. Cleveland opened the season by building a 29-point lead against the Philadelphia 76ers, only to watch it disappear in a 114-106 loss. Philadelphia turned the game with a 37-21 third quarter and then closed with a 32-16 edge in the fourth.
The Cavaliers also let a double-digit lead get away against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5. Bailey’s read was blunt: it doesn’t look like Cleveland has learned anything from the 2026 playoffs.
That playoff run still hangs over the group. Cleveland reached the conference finals last season for the first time without LeBron James on the roster since 1992, and Game 1 in New York was right there for the taking. The Cavaliers led by 22 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter before the Knicks ripped off a 44-11 run in the fourth quarter and overtime to steal a 115-104 win in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history.
Bailey also pointed to James’ decision not to return to Cleveland this summer, writing that he didn’t trust Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Instead, James signed with the 76ers, who are 8-1.
And while Cleveland keeps searching for answers, James’ résumé only keeps towering over the franchise’s history. He is the best player in Cavaliers history and, arguably, the best player ever. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, he leads NBA history in points, field goals, games and minutes, is the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three teams, the only player with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists, and the only player to score 50,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.
The Cavaliers will get another crack at the 76ers on Friday. Harden, 37, is making $30,647,619 this season, will make $32,180,000 next season and has a player option worth $33,712,381 for the 2028-29 season.
In Other News...
Cavs Suddenly Face Lineup Uncertainty Against The 76ers
The Cavaliers head into their home matchup with the 76ers carrying a little more uncertainty than usual, with three players on the injury report and several more already unavailable. Kenny Atkinson is left sorting through possible lineup changes before tipoff, a familiar early-season puzzle that can quickly alter rotation plans and the way Cleveland wants to attack a matchup like this.
Jarrett Allen, Peyton Watson and Tyrese Proctor are all in question, while Jaylon Tyson and NaeQwan Tomlin have already been ruled out. Add in the players away on G League assignments, and the Cavs are suddenly thin enough that the final look of the roster could hinge on late clearance decisions rather than any fixed plan. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Defensive Decline Just Put One Draft Decision Under Fire
Clevelands defensive slide has become hard to ignore, especially for a team that was sitting atop the league in efficiency not long ago. The Cavaliers have fallen from first in defensive rating in 2022-23 to 22nd this season, and the drop has only sharpened the scrutiny on how the roster has been built around the edges. Losing Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade took away two players who helped the group function on that end, and the replacements have not brought the same level of impact.
The draft conversation now circles back to whether the front office addressed that need aggressively enough. Cleveland moved down in the 2026 NBA Draft and came away with Meleek Thomas, a scoring guard, even though a defensive wing looked like the cleaner fit for what the roster was missing. With the Cavaliers trying to stabilize a defense that has slipped far from its peak, that decision is going to keep drawing questions until the team proves it can cover for the loss of those versatile defenders. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers May Already Be Facing A James Harden Reality Check
The Cavaliers uneven start has already put a brighter light on the James Harden gamble, with Cleveland sitting at 4-4 after a recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. For a team that reshaped its roster to bring Harden in, the early returns have been more sobering than transformative, and the questions around his fit are starting to sound less theoretical and more immediate.
Hardens production has slipped from the level that once made him one of the leagues most reliable engines, with his scoring efficiency and playmaking both trending down from previous seasons. Cleveland knew it was betting on a veteran star to help stabilize the offense, but the early stretch has only sharpened the concern that the version of Harden the Cavaliers are counting on may not be the one they get. [Read more 🡒]