The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking up at the Eastern Conference hierarchy after an offseason that has left them standing still while others surged ahead.
ESPN’s initial NBA power rankings landed Cleveland at No. 8 overall, a spot that places the Cavs behind the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in the East alone. The Boston Celtics are right behind them at No. 9 overall, a reminder of how crowded the top of the conference has become.
That’s a sharp turn from where Cleveland stood not long ago. The Cavs finished as the No. 1 seed in the East in 2025 and slipped to No. 4 in 2026, but this season could bring an even tougher climb. Instead of being viewed as a default favorite, they may have to scrap simply to stay in the top six.
A few rivals have made that road even steeper. The Indiana Pacers are expected to be a factor with Tyrese Haliburton back and healthy.
The Miami Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even the Washington Wizards got better with Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa in town.
Cleveland, meanwhile, has only added Mario Hezonja after missing out on the LeBron James sweepstakes.
That kind of quiet summer stands out in a conference where teams are constantly reshuffling and upgrading. The Cavaliers had a real shot to reach the NBA Finals this past season, getting to the Eastern Conference Finals and cruising toward a Game 1 win before the New York Knicks stormed back, took the opener and eventually won the series and the NBA Finals as well.
Now the question is whether this new reality pushes the Cavs forward or leaves them exposed again. They have fallen flat in the playoffs four straight years, and those elimination games have often been ugly. But a deeper, tougher East could also force Cleveland into a better regular-season edge, one that demands focus from the start instead of waiting for the playoffs to flip the switch.
They won’t be coasting in 2027. If the Cavaliers want to reclaim top-tier status, they’ll have to earn it all over again. And if they do get back to a top seed next April, it would mean a lot more than it has in recent seasons.
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Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen give Cleveland a higher ceiling on offense, especially with Hardens ability to create in ways the earlier group could not. Still, the question is whether that extra shot creation outweighs the cohesion the Cavs already had, and a recent fan poll suggests plenty of observers still trust the older version in a seven-game series. [Read more 🡒]
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Cavaliers Are Zeroing In On A Wing To Fill A Critical Need
The Cavaliers are still working to shore up a clear need on the wing after losing Dean Wade, and Peyton Watson has emerged as a player of interest in that search. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Cleveland is in discussions with the Denver Nuggets on a potential sign-and-trade deal for the 22-year-old, a sign the team is exploring more than one avenue to stabilize its starting small forward spot.
Watsons situation adds another layer to the conversation, since he is a restricted free agent and his contract status gives Denver control for now. He also holds a qualifying offer that could put him on track to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which is part of what makes his market worth watching as Cleveland tries to find a long-term answer on the perimeter. [Read more 🡒]