The Cleveland Cavaliers have already learned the hard way what happens when Indiana gets rolling.
Two years ago, Cleveland looked like it had a real shot to break through and reach the NBA Finals. Standing in the way was a Pacers team that seemed young, loose and more like a nice story than a serious threat.
That picture changed fast. Tyrese Haliburton caught fire, Indiana took control, and the Pacers knocked the Cavaliers out in five games to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Now ESPN’s projection has brought that old headache right back into focus. After a season in which Haliburton was out with an injury, ESPN experts are picking the Pacers as the league’s most-improved team next season. For Kenny Atkinson’s Cavaliers, that’s not exactly welcome news.
Indiana has already shown it can be a bad matchup for Cleveland. The Pacers beat the Cavs 3-1 in the regular season before that 4-1 playoff series win. Cleveland swept Indiana last season, but that came against a Pacers squad that was among the worst teams in the league, so it doesn’t carry much weight.
The roster around Haliburton also looks dangerous again. Indiana didn’t land one of the top picks in this year’s NBA Draft because of the Ivica Zubac trade, but it did add a battle-tested big man who can make life difficult for Jarrett Allen alongside the always problematic Pascal Siakam.
Haliburton is now more than a year removed from the injury, and even if he needs a month or two to shake off the rust, he remains a rising star. Just as important, the Pacers already know how to push Cleveland into uncomfortable territory.
Indiana’s pace gave the Cavaliers trouble last time around. Cleveland wasn’t as young or as fast, and the second halves became a problem once fatigue started to pile up. That could still matter next season, especially with James Harden trying to play catch-up.
At the same time, the Cavaliers are not standing still. Harden gives them another playmaker, Peyton Watson adds a sturdy and athletic two-way presence, and this group has been through another painful postseason and come out with more scars and more experience.
It’s still far too early to know how any of this will play out next season. The league has plenty of parity, plenty of turnover, and plenty of unknowns. And Cleveland should still feel good about its chances against anybody, old frustrations included.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Sent Another Clear Message About Rocket Arenas Future
The Cavaliers have added another piece to their growing footprint around downtown Cleveland, buying a former bar at 721 Bolivar Road in the Gateway District for $1 million. The property sits in an area that has become increasingly important to the teams long-term planning, especially as Rocket Arena and the surrounding blocks continue to draw attention beyond game nights.
The purchase also fits a broader pattern around the district, where nearby property moves by the Guardians have helped signal how much value teams now place on controlling the land around their venues. After a season that kept the Cavaliers in the conversation and with the next one on the horizon, the latest acquisition only adds to the sense that the organization is thinking well beyond the court and into what comes next for the building and its neighborhood. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Added A Wild Card For Their Crowded Bench Rotation
The Cavaliers have added another name to an already crowded bench picture, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract as training camp competition starts to take shape. It is the kind of low-risk move that gives Cleveland another experienced option to sort through while the team tries to settle the back end of its rotation, and Hezonja will have a chance to earn a spot if he can prove he belongs.
For a team that has spent the offseason balancing depth, fit and flexibility, the signing fits the broader search for help around the edges of the roster. The Cavaliers are not handing out a guaranteed role, but they are giving themselves another look at a player who could make the bench conversation more complicated if he finds his footing quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Last Roster Spot Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
With training camp drawing closer, the Cavaliers last few roster decisions have taken on more importance than a typical end-of-summer cleanup. Cleveland waived forward Cam Whitmore and now has two guaranteed contracts left to hand out, all while working with limited salary cap space and trying to strengthen the frontcourt depth behind its core.
One option under consideration is Saliou Niang, a 2025 second-round pick whose rights the Cavaliers control. Niang has spent time playing overseas and is also tied up with LSU and international competition, which adds another layer to a front office already sorting through timing, availability and fit. For a team still looking to add size before camp opens, the final move may end up being less about filling a seat and more about finding the right kind of big man at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]