ESPN’s early Cavaliers preview landed with a familiar mix of optimism and skepticism, giving Cleveland a B for its offseason while raising the biggest question hanging over the team: what happens now that James Harden has a full year to settle in?
The grade came with a clear explanation from Zach Kram, who called the Cavs’ summer “risky but necessary” for a group trying to win now. Cleveland leaned into that idea by swapping out a chunk of last season’s depth, most notably Max Strus, and then handing Peyton Watson a four-year, $88 million contract.
Watson is expected to step into the long-awaited fifth starter role alongside Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. ESPN also pointed to Jaylon Tyson as the roster’s biggest X factor after he averaged 13.2 points and shot 45 percent from three last season, then mostly vanished from the playoff rotation.
Of course, the real swing piece is Harden. He joined at the trade deadline and still helped push the Cavs to the Eastern Conference finals.
Now he gets an entire training camp to build chemistry with Mitchell, the big men and the rest of the group. On paper, that should matter.
On the floor, we’ll see.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index has Cleveland 11th, and its post-free-agency power rankings slot the Cavs eighth. For a team that reached the conference finals and believes Watson addresses its clearest weakness, that feels a little light.
But September rankings are just that - September rankings. They’re there to be judged later. The real Cleveland story starts when Harden and Mitchell start sharing the ball, Watson is asked to defend someone important, and Tyson gets a chance to prove he belongs in May.
In Other News...
New Look Cavs Bring Real Rotation Drama Into Preseason
The Cavaliers preseason slate will arrive with a little extra spotlight attached, starting with a home meeting against the Magic on Oct. 11 that will air on ESPN and then a quick rematch in Orlando two days later on Peacock. Cleveland is also planning to open training camp in Spain from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, a setup that gives the team an unusual early rhythm before the exhibition games begin and the regular season opener lands on Oct. 22.
That schedule would matter anyway, but it takes on more weight with Peyton Watson set to make his debut and roster decisions still looming after recent transactions. A three-game preseason does not leave much room for coaches to experiment, which is why every minute in camp and every early exhibition matchup figures to carry real meaning as Cleveland sorts out its rotation heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
James Harden Has Changed Everything In A Cavaliers Trade Debate
James Harden has already altered the conversation around the Cavaliers in a way few midseason moves ever do. Since arriving from the Clippers in the deal that sent Darius Garland the other way, Harden has given Cleveland a different kind of offensive engine, one that has fit into a team pushing for meaningful wins and carrying that momentum into the playoffs even while managing injury questions along the way.
Garland, meanwhile, has dealt with his own injury setbacks in Los Angeles, which keeps the trade from feeling settled in either direction. Clevelands side of the deal now looks tied not just to what Harden has already provided, but to how long he can sustain it and whether the Cavs have made the kind of swing that changes their ceiling for good. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Linked To A Championship Guard With Real Bargain Appeal
Bruce Brown is again drawing the kind of attention that follows a useful playoff piece, with the unrestricted free agent reportedly on the radar of the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. For Cleveland, the appeal is easy to see: he brings versatility, defensive reliability and the kind of veteran presence contenders often want in the back half of the rotation, especially if the price stays within reach.
What makes the situation even more intriguing is the idea that Brown could be had on a minimum deal, which would make him a tidy fit for several teams looking to shore up their guard depth without sacrificing flexibility. Nothing is settled yet, but for a club like the Cavaliers, monitoring a player with championship experience and a reputation for fitting just about anywhere is the sort of offseason detail worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]