The Cleveland Cavaliers spent the offseason looking like a team that had finally put the right pieces in the right places. By late August, the job was done: the players they wanted were in, the stars were back, James Harden is locked in for the next couple of seasons, and Peyton Watson signed on for four years the moment he arrived.
That matters because Cleveland is no longer operating with the apron pressure that had been hanging over the roster a year ago. Koby Altman deserves credit for getting the team out of that mess while still making the group better. And if the Cavs are going to chase the top spot in the Eastern Conference over 82 games, that improved roster construction is a huge part of the case.
Watson is the cleanest example of what changed. The 6-foot-8 forward brings the kind of athleticism Cleveland hasn’t had since LeBron James’ second stint, along with rim protection from the wing and three-point shooting above 40%.
He’s also come a long way from the college freshman who once averaged three points per game. In Cleveland, he should slide naturally next to Donovan Mitchell and Harden, two guards who can score and create, while giving Jarrett Allen more room to work inside.
Evan Mobley can score from the perimeter and in the paint, so Watson’s spacing should fit better than what the team got from Dean Wade.
The size upgrade on the wing also matters. When Max Strus was starting, the Cavaliers were noticeably undersized. Watson gives them length at the exact spot where they needed it most, and that’s why the starting five looks so strong on paper.
The depth behind that group gives Cleveland another edge. Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill were both sensational in the regular season last year, and each brings something valuable: tough play, taking charges, and knocking down more than 40% of their threes.
Then there’s Mario Hezonja, who adds more athleticism on the wing and another guy who can create a quick basket. He just put up 37 points and the game-winner for Croatia in a FIBA qualifier against Turkey yesterday, a sign he’s ready to roll.
There is still one roster spot to fill, and once that gets sorted out, there will be one open spot after Cam Whitmore is moved. Whoever arrives could see real minutes on a nightly basis. Even if that doesn’t happen right away, the competition between Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas should keep the pressure high and bring out the best version of both.
But talent alone doesn’t make a No. 1 seed. The Cavs also look like a team with the kind of chemistry that carries over across six months.
Harden was recruiting Watson before his own deal was even finalized, and several players showed up at Donovan Mitchell’s wedding a few weeks ago. Summer workouts have already been happening among the guys who will be on the floor together, and the tone around the group suggests a clean reset after the 2025-26 ending, when Cleveland got swept by the Knicks in the ECF.
That sweep is in the rearview now. The Cavs are acting like it. And with the roster deeper, longer, and seemingly more connected than before, there’s a real path for them to finish the regular season at the top of the East.
In Other News...
Cavs Are Closing In On A Move That Changes Daily Life
The Cavaliers are getting ready for a change that goes well beyond a new address. During the NBA All-Star break in February, the team plans to move into the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center downtown, a facility that should give players and staff a far different day-to-day experience than the one theyve had in Independence.
The new building is expected to be significantly larger than the current practice site and come with multiple amenities designed around the needs of a modern NBA operation. Once the Cavs relocate, the Independence facility will take on a new role of its own, serving as the training home for the Cleveland Sirens, the WNBA expansion team set to begin play in 2028. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Latest Roster Upgrade Came From A Twist Fans Didnt Expect
The Cavaliers latest roster shake-up took shape through a chain of events that had less to do with Cleveland than with the wider league market, and it gave the front office a little more room to operate than expected. In the process, the team moved on from Dennis Schroder and brought in Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade with Denver, while Max Strus was sent to the Clippers as part of the same broader shuffle.
What made the opening possible was James Harden declining his player option and then signing a new deal later than anticipated, which created the kind of cap flexibility that can change a summer plan in a hurry. Harden has also reportedly been involved in recruiting Watson and has been active in team workouts, a detail that adds an unusual layer to a move Cleveland fans probably did not see coming when the offseason started. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Made Their Title Window A Lot More Complicated
The Cavaliers latest offseason swing was about more than just reshuffling the roster. By sending an unprotected 2031 first-round pick to Denver and Max Strus to the Clippers, Cleveland signaled that it is leaning hard into the present, building around a core led by Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden while the window feels open enough to justify the cost.
The trade also comes with a real complication for what happens next. Cleveland has now burned through the flexibility that usually helps teams manage the margins, which means future upgrades are far more likely to have to come from current players rather than draft capital. For a contender trying to stay ahead of the league, that makes every next move a little harder to navigate. [Read more 🡒]