The Cleveland Cavaliers may have solved one problem this offseason, but the bigger question heading into 2026-27 is still hanging over the roster: what does the bench look like when the games pile up?
Cleveland made its biggest swing by trading for Peyton Watson, a move aimed at finally locking down the wing spot the franchise has been trying to settle since LeBron James left in 2018. But even with that headline addition, the depth chart has taken a hit. Dean Wade is gone to the Philadelphia 76ers, Larry Nance Jr. is now with the Indiana Pacers, Max Strus was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Peyton Watson trade, and Dennis Schroeder and Keion Brooks both departed after arriving from the Sacramento Kings in the DeAndre Hunter trade at the deadline.
That leaves Kenny Atkinson and his staff with a lot of sorting to do. The Cavaliers are betting that the “addition by subtraction” approach can work, especially as they try to build around Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
Maybe it does. But if Cleveland wants to get where it wants to go, it’s going to need more than optimism from the back end of the roster.
The good news is that there are bodies here. Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr., Thomas Bryant and Tyrese Proctor are all back, while Mario Hezonja joins the mix as a 2026 first team all La Liga overseas and a former top 5 NBA draft pick.
Cleveland also added rookie sharpshooter Meleek Thomas and Eurostash prospect Khalifa Diop. The group gives the Cavaliers options, but it also gives them a lot of questions.
Those questions matter because the core hasn’t exactly been bulletproof. James Harden is 37, Jarrett Allen dealt with injuries all last season, Watson had a hamstring issue in his final year in Denver, and Mobley’s calf problems limited him badly last year. If Cleveland wants its stars fresh for the postseason, the bench has to carry more weight during the regular season.
Jaylon Tyson looks like one of the clearest candidates to make that jump. He shot 43% from beyond the arc last season, but his playoff stretch was rough - he made only one three-pointer across the final two playoff series. Cleveland needs more steadiness from him, plain and simple.
Merrill, meanwhile, has become one of the more reliable pieces on the second unit. He’s a former NBA champion with real playoff experience, and even while dealing with injuries last season, he still shot 42% from three. For this group, that kind of dependable shooting matters.
The third big man spot has been a moving target for years, and Thomas Bryant filled that role after Larry Nance last season. The problem came when the rotation tightened in the playoffs and Bryant became unplayable.
Khalifa Diop brings long-term upside, but it would be a surprise if he claimed a real role this season. Bryant at least offers floor spacing, though the question is whether the Cavaliers can trust him when it matters most.
Hezonja could be part of that answer too. At 6'8, he brings scoring ability that could help Cleveland in certain matchups, and there’s at least the possibility of him handling some small-ball center minutes.
With Schroeder gone, the backup point guard spot is another issue. Tyson can handle the ball and defend across positions one through three, but the Cavaliers still need more behind Harden.
Proctor looks like the leading candidate. The second-year Duke product spent the offseason with the Australian National Team in FIBA Qualifiers to sharpen his game, and he chose that over Summer League.
Koby Altman is high on him, and this could be the year his role grows.
Porter Jr. is another player with a path to minutes. He’s flashed enough to stay in the conversation, and his toughness on the offensive glass has already helped Cleveland. The question is whether his athleticism can translate into a bigger, more consistent role.
Then there’s Thomas, who may have the most upside of anyone on the bench. He was Cleveland’s lone pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and followed that up with an impressive Summer League, earning first team all-Summer League honors. He came into the league with plenty of buzz after his lone college season at Arkansas under John Calipari, and plenty of people around the team believe the Cavaliers found real value in the second round.
That’s the shape of the issue for Cleveland. The talent is there.
The fit is what has to be sorted out. The Cavaliers may end up looking stronger in the playoffs than they do over the long haul of the regular season, but that only works if the bench does its part.
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