It’s early, and the Cavs are already giving people plenty to sort through after a 4-3 start. The loss to the Thunder on Monday night was just one game, but the bigger picture is starting to take shape.
Some of what Cleveland has gotten so far has been rough. Some of it has been a lot better than expected.
And that’s where the real story lives: the surprises.
Mario Hezonja has been the loudest one. The Cavs brought him back into the mix, and he has wasted no time looking like a different player than the one who once carried the bust label after being drafted so high.
He’s bulked up, he’s rebounding hard, and he’s been throwing passes that catch your eye. Just yesterday, he knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 12 points after halftime, another reminder that he has become a real weapon for a team that didn’t know it would need him this much.
The timing around his deal only adds another layer. His contract still won’t fully guarantee for another 12 days, with November 15 looming as a major date for Cleveland to lock him in for the rest of the season.
He has already done the work to make that an easy call. He’s pointed out what hasn’t worked, kept grinding, and kept making plays.
Then there’s Meleek Thomas, who has given the Cavs exactly the kind of immediate payoff teams dream about from a second-round pick. Cleveland has a long track record of finding value where others don’t, and this one is looking like another hit. The last time a player from that draft spot made this kind of early impact for the franchise was Carlos Boozer back in 2002.
Thomas has shown no fear. He’s scored in double figures in four straight games, and Cleveland has gone 3-1 in the four games he has played.
That kind of early production doesn’t just help; it changes the feel of a rotation. Kenny Atkinson has praised him, Donovan Mitchell was already hyping him up during and after the debut, and the buzz around him keeps growing.
He may be pushing his way into a bigger role even as other players get healthy.
Jarrett Allen is the third surprise, and it’s less about a shocking leap than it is about how much he’s done with a lighter workload. He hasn’t been getting the kind of minutes you’d expect for a big man of his caliber, landing more in the 27-to-30 range than the 32-to-34 he could handle. Even so, he’s been productive, and he’s added something new to the mix in year seven with the team.
Allen has already had a couple of 20-point games. He’s even knocked down a few 3s, which speaks to the work he’s put in.
The blocked shots are also up nearly double from what he averaged in 2025-26. He still needs the ball more to really take over, but the production is there when he gets the chance.
Against the Thunder, he showed it again by hitting jumpers off the bounce and swatting Aday Mara at the rim. Cleveland has been fortunate to keep him, because he remains one of the engines that makes the whole thing go.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Stole A Useful Frontcourt Addition From A Rival
Norchad Omier is heading into another NBA opportunity, and this one is coming with a different team than expected. According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, the big man changed his mind about signing a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves and now plans to join the Cavaliers on a similar deal, giving Cleveland a low-risk frontcourt addition with some pro experience already behind him.
Omier has already spent time in training camp with Minnesota and has also had NBA and G League stops, including a stint with the Clippers, so this is not a total unknown for a team looking to add depth up front. For Cleveland, it is the kind of move that can quietly matter over the long season, while for Omier it is another chance to carve out a foothold in the league and prove he belongs. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Reignited A Kyrie Debate Cavaliers Fans Know Well
LeBron James has a way of turning old Cavaliers debates back into fresh ones, and his latest comments did exactly that. The former Cleveland partners built one of the most memorable stretches in franchise history, pairing LeBrons all-around dominance with Kyrie Irvings shot-making on the way to the 2016 NBA championship, the high-water mark for a team that still measures itself against that title run.
Irving is now with the Dallas Mavericks, while LeBron moved on again this offseason by signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Even with their careers headed in different directions, their Cleveland connection remains impossible to separate from how fans judge both players, and the renewed conversation around Irvings place in NBA history is only going to keep that bond in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Mobleys Next Career Move Will Catch Cavs Fans Attention
Isaiah Mobleys next stop is taking him back to Europe, where the former Cavaliers draft pick has agreed to join Basquet Manresa in Spain, according to the club. For Cleveland fans, it is another reminder of how the organizations recent draft history continues to ripple outward, with Mobley now adding Spain to a pro career that has already included stops in Turkey and Israel.
Mobley was a second-round selection by the Cavaliers in 2022, and his path since then has been a familiar one for players trying to carve out a longer runway in the game. Around the wider basketball world, Killian Hayes has been linked to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Josh Hart has been mentioned as a possible fit for Napoli Basket down the line, and the NBA has also been dealing with questions from U.S. senators about its partnership with Rwanda. [Read more 🡒]