The Cavaliers are still in the early stages of sorting themselves out, and the preseason has already delivered a little of everything. That’s not a bad thing right now. This is the window to experiment, live with mistakes, and find out which combinations actually make sense.
One of the clearest early answers: Mario Hezonja can really play. He’s looked comfortable as another ball-handler, and he’s given Cleveland something it can always use - a steady decision-maker who can handle the ball without turning every possession into a Donovan Mitchell solo act.
That matters because Mitchell is at his best when he’s attacking as a star scorer, not pretending to be something he isn’t. He’s a willing passer, sure, and he can initiate offense the way players like Bradley Beal or Devin Booker have done.
But that kind of setup can create misleading assist numbers. A lot of it is more accidental basketball than true point-guard play.
That’s not a knock on Mitchell. It’s just the reality of his game.
He’s a lead guard and a three-level scorer who can pull up from anywhere, but he’s not built to be the full-time floor general. That’s not a flaw so much as a definition.
Hezonja, though, has become a useful release valve. His decision-making was once one of the biggest questions around him during his first NBA stint, but that picture has changed.
The game has clearly slowed down for him. His time in Europe sharpened both his shot selection and his passing, and in Cleveland he seems to understand exactly what his role needs to be.
His preseason assist average - two per game - doesn’t jump off the page, but the impact goes beyond that number. He can bring the ball up, make clean reads, and ease the burden on Mitchell by letting him work off the ball more often.
There’s also value in what Hezonja can do around the top of the key. He can attack from that area, find the big in the post, or force help because of his triple-threat ability. That gives Cleveland another player who can trigger offense without needing everything to run through Mitchell.
And that’s the larger point here: Mitchell doesn’t need to be something he’s never been. At this stage, he’s pretty much who he is - a terrific player with plenty of strengths, just not one born-and-bred as a point guard.
Cleveland also still has to settle on a closing group that keeps James Harden on the bench. He’s a major scorer and passer, but he isn’t a reliable or willing defender, and his efficiency tends to vanish in crunch time.
With Hezonja on the floor, the Cavs have another long, switchable defender who can score or create for teammates. That kind of balance should help Mitchell do what he does best.
In Other News...
Jarrett Allen Trade Buzz Puts Cleveland In A Tough Spot
Jarrett Allens name has started to surface in trade conversations around the league, and the Cavaliers have found themselves in the familiar position of listening without feeling pressure to act. Multiple NBA teams have checked in on the center, but Clevelands stance has been consistent so far: Allen is too important to move unless a deal clearly makes the roster better.
That reluctance makes sense for a team that leans on Allen as a defensive anchor and values the stability he brings alongside Evan Mobley. For now, the Cavs have turned down every inquiry, and the real question is whether any team will eventually come forward with an offer Cleveland views as worth disturbing one of its most important interior pieces. [Read more 🡒]
James Harden Just Put A Surprising Timeline On His Beard
James Harden has made one offseason grooming decision abundantly clear as he heads into his 18th NBA season and second with the Cavaliers: the beard is staying put. With Cleveland done with its preseason slate and the regular season set to begin Oct. 22 against the 76ers, Hardens familiar look remains part of the backdrop as the team turns the page from exhibition play to games that count.
For Cavaliers fans, the bigger point is less about facial hair than the reminder that Harden is still very much settled into the stage of his career where identity matters as much as role. He indicated the beard will remain with him throughout his playing days, leaving any real decision on it for later, once the cameras are no longer part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Atkinson Enters Season With One Cavaliers Problem He Must Solve
Kenny Atkinson goes into the new season with the kind of roster puzzle every coach would prefer to have, but also the kind that can turn tricky in a hurry. The Cavaliers are sorting through player roles and trying to build on last years progress, with Mario Hezonja expected to be part of the bench mix and the club looking for clearer offensive balance as it settles into its rotation.
The bigger pressure point is not just internal fit, but the standard this group is carrying into October and beyond. Cleveland is still trying to show it can push deeper in the playoffs after past postseason stalls, and the opening schedule will not make the early evaluation any easier, with several quality opponents waiting in the first 10 games. [Read more 🡒]