With a projected starting five for 2026-27, the Cleveland Cavaliers are built to make noise. They’ve poured real money into the core and managed to get out of the second apron, and after last season’s letdown, the bar is higher now. If this group is going to turn all that into a title run, each starter has a specific job that has to get done.
James Harden’s first task is the simplest one to say and the hardest one to clean up: take better care of the ball. His postseason turnover problem was impossible to ignore, with 84 giveaways in 18 playoff games.
Even in a Game 2 win against the Knicks, when he finished with zero turnovers, he still averaged 4.25 per game in the series. Cleveland cannot afford that many empty possessions from its floor general.
Harden has already shown he can be a generational talent with the ball in his hands. If he creates more offense while giving it away less, he’s doing exactly what the team needs.
Donovan Mitchell, meanwhile, has to keep being Donovan Mitchell. When he gets rolling, there isn’t much anyone can do to stop him one-on-one, and the ball just keeps finding the rim.
His playoff scoring has already shown up, and the 50-point game against Orlando two years ago was another reminder of the kind of damage he can still do. If Mitchell is delivering 25-30 a night on the biggest stage, Cleveland becomes a very hard team to beat.
He’s the top dog, and the Cavs need the 7X All-Star to stay in that mode.
Peyton Watson brings a different kind of value. He can protect the rim in a pinch, jump passing lanes, and cover a lot of ground defensively.
The swing factor is the jumper. If he can knock down 40% of his threes next season, it changes everything for the rest of the lineup.
With his reputation on defense, that kind of shooting would make him one of the most valuable Cavs. He already did it a year ago in a semi-high-volume role for the Nuggets, and that’s the version Cleveland wants to see again.
New system, same Watson.
Evan Mobley’s issue is less about talent and more about consistency on offense. He’s already stacked up the accolades - All-Star, All-NBA, DPOY - and has shown plenty of huge nights over his five seasons.
But there are still games where he looks like a force and others where he barely gets enough touches to matter. Sometimes he’ll score 30; other times he might only see eight shot attempts.
That has to change. He needs to be the No. 2 scoring option, and he has to demand the ball more often.
There were playoff halves last season where Mobley barely touched it, and that simply can’t happen. With Mitchell and Harden drawing attention, there should be room for him to operate.
Jarrett Allen’s role is the one Cleveland has come to expect: be efficient, be steady, and wreck momentum when the moment calls for it. Over the last few years, he’s been one of the league’s most efficient players, and he’s delivered in the biggest spots when the Cavs have needed him.
In the Game 7 win over the Raptors a season ago, he put up 22 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks. He’s also long been the guy who shuts down superstar dunk attempts at the rim, and his own power finishes can flip a building in an instant.
The Fro remains the team’s defensive anchor and, for plenty of people, the most underrated Cavalier.
Cleveland isn’t being handed the East favorites label. But it is firmly in the mix. If this starting five does its part, and the team handles the rough stretches without losing its footing, there won’t be much standing in the way.
In Other News...
Cavs Fans Just Got A New Way To Watch Key Matchups
Cavaliers fans who have been looking for an easier way to follow the team will get one this season, with Cleveland and Gray Media teaming up with DAZN to put 15 regular-season games on free over-the-air television. The broadcasts will run on WOIO (CBS 19), WUAB (MyNet 43) and the Rock Entertainment Sports Network, giving viewers in Cleveland and across the state another way to keep up with key matchups without needing a subscription.
The package also comes with pregame and postgame coverage, which should make the telecasts feel a little more like a full game-night presentation than a simple simulcast. The schedule includes specific dates and opponents, though it is still subject to change, and for a fan base that wants more access to the team, the new setup could be an appealing option throughout the season. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Fans Now Know What Following This Team Will Cost
Cavaliers fans got a clearer picture of how they will follow the team this season, with Cleveland moving into an exclusive broadcasting agreement with DAZN for its games. The setup splits the viewing options right away: beginning Oct. 26, 15 games will air for free on local Gray Media stations and Rock Entertainment Sports Network, giving fans a traditional over-the-air route for part of the schedule.
For everything else, the price of staying locked in will be a DAZN subscription, a change that puts a new layer between the team and its audience. There is one built-in cushion for the most committed supporters, though, as season and half-season ticket holders will get a free season pass to access the games, leaving the rest of the fan base to decide how much this season's coverage is worth to them. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Landed A Wing Denver Clearly Hated To Lose
Peyton Watsons move to Cleveland came with the kind of ripple effect that usually says as much about the player as it does the transaction. The Cavaliers landed the young wing on a four-year, $88 million contract in a multi-team sign-and-trade deal that also sent Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers and gave Denver draft picks, a notable swing for a team looking to keep adding length and athleticism on the perimeter.
Watsons departure hit a little harder in Denver because of the relationships he built there, especially with Aaron Gordon. The two remain close, and Gordon has been open about the strong bond they share, even while acknowledging the Nuggets would have preferred to keep Watson in the fold. Still, he made clear he is happy for Watson as he settles into a new situation, leaving Cleveland with a player whose value clearly resonated far beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]