The Cavaliers spent last season fighting a size problem they could never quite solve. Kenny Atkinson kept reaching into the bag for smaller lineups, but those groups kept leaving Cleveland exposed, especially when opponents started leaning on the Cavs at both ends of the floor.
That scramble showed up in all kinds of ways. Craig Porter Jr. was used as a de facto power forward early in the year.
Keon Ellis spent time at the four. Dean Wade even got pushed into small-ball five looks.
Atkinson kept trying to manufacture flexibility, but the end result was usually the same: Cleveland giving up a physical edge.
That is exactly why Peyton Watson matters. His arrival gives the Cavs a much bigger, more adaptable roster, and it should finally wipe out one of the most frustrating lineup choices from a year ago.
Peyton Watson’s arrival means no more four guard lineups for Cleveland
Or at least that is the hope. Watson can handle multiple spots, which opens the door to a lot of different combinations, but the bigger point is simple: Cleveland should not have to keep shrinking itself to survive.
The projected starting group already brings plenty of length with Harden-Mitchell-Watson-Mobley-Allen. That group also packs serious rim protection, with Watson, Mobley, and Allen forming a trio that can make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Because the Cavaliers like to stagger their bigs and guards, the first wave off the bench could look like Harden-Merrill-Tyson-Watson-Mobley. That setup would let Merrill slide into his natural two-guard role more often, while Tyson and Watson give Cleveland a strong wing pairing.
There are other routes, too. Mitchell-Tyson-Watson-Tomlin-Mobley is one option.
So is Harden-Merrill-Tyson-Tomlin-Allen. The Cavs could also mix in one of their young guards and roll out Porter-Mitchell-Tyson-Watson-Mobley or Harden-Proctor-Watson-Mobley-Allen.
Even Mario Hezonja and Thomas Bryant could be used in those looks from time to time.
The common thread is obvious: these lineups give Cleveland more versatility and let players spend more time in the roles that suit them best. With Watson on board, the Cavs should no longer be forced into undersized three-and-four combinations. They have bigger guards, more switchable forwards, and a frontcourt that can support it all - and next season, they need to lean into that.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Already Have Their Best Answer For A Thin Frontcourt
The Cavaliers still have an open 14th roster spot, and with cap space tight, the frontcourt is one area that keeps standing out as a practical need. Cleveland has already added wing help in Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja and drafted Meleek Thomas, but behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the team could still use a low-cost big who can soak up minutes and give the rotation some insurance.
Olivier Sarr fits that search as well as anyone on the current list of possibilities. The 6-foot-10 center has previous two-way experience with Cleveland, and his combination of size and G League production makes him a logical candidate if the Cavaliers decide to use that final opening on a true interior presence rather than another developmental flier. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Still Have One Important Backcourt Job Up For Grabs
The Cavaliers have spent much of the Donovan Mitchell era searching for a reliable backup point guard, and the list of names who have cycled through that spot shows how unsettled it has been. Ty Jerome, Ricky Rubio, Raul Neto, Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroder have all taken a turn trying to stabilize the second unit, but Cleveland still heads into the season with that reserve backcourt role very much open.
Now the attention shifts to a younger crop, with the Cavaliers using draft capital on Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas and setting up a training camp battle that should be worth watching. Proctor, Thomas and Porter are expected to compete for minutes behind Mitchell, and coach Kenny Atkinson will be looking for a guard who can bring both consistency and versatility to a bench that has not yet found a settled answer. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Still Have A Late Offseason Question Worth Watching
The NBAs offseason shake-up has already changed the leagues balance, and Cleveland is still watching the board with plenty of other teams. Even with the biggest dominoes falling elsewhere, there are roster spots around the league that remain open, and front offices are expected to keep tinkering before the 2026-27 season tips off on Oct. 20. For the Cavaliers, that kind of late-summer movement can matter, especially when the margins in the East are so thin.
What makes this stretch worth following is how many situations are still unresolved. Some players are widely expected to stay put, while others are lingering on unsigned deals or non-guaranteed contracts, leaving clubs room to change course if the right option appears. Cleveland does not need a splash to keep its eyes on this market, but one more quiet addition or a surprise decision elsewhere could still shape the final look of the roster. [Read more 🡒]