Bleacher Report’s latest player rankings gave the Cavaliers plenty to smile about, and maybe a little extra motivation, too. Cleveland landed all five of its starters inside the top 99, a nice reminder that this group has earned real respect heading into the season.
The most eye-catching part is the backcourt. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell both checked in inside the top 30, and Cleveland is the only team on the list with that distinction.
Mitchell wound up outside the top 10, with Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, and Cade Cunningham ahead of him, which is bound to sting a little after the All-NBA second-team nod he picked up a season ago. He’s coming off a postseason stretch highlighted by that historic second-half against the Pistons guard, so being slotted there only adds more fuel.
Harden’s placement also stands out in a good way. After a first season in Cleveland that came with its share of highs and lows, including a broken thumb during the playoff run, he still delivered timely shots and strong assist production. In 26 regular-season appearances, the Cavs went 19-7, and now, heading into his age 37 season, he looks fully healthy.
That gives Cleveland a backcourt with plenty to prove and plenty to like. Both guards will see these rankings as something to push against, and the same can be said for the rest of the starting group.
Evan Mobley came in at No. 32, which puts him behind Harden and makes him one of the more surprising placements in the group. Still, there’s real reason to think his number could climb. He spent a lot of the offseason working on a “go-to” move, and a career-year could be on the way for #4.
Peyton Watson, the team’s newest addition, landed at No. 91.
His offensive numbers were quiet for most of last season until November 19, when everything changed. Over the next two months, he took off.
Bleacher Report highlighted it this way:
“Over the first 184 games of his career, Watson averaged 6.7 points and shot 32.4 percent from three. Not bad, but that production certainly didn’t forecast his sudden in-season explosion to 18.0 points and a 43.5 three-point percentage from November 19 through February 4.”
Watson’s defense has never been in doubt. The bigger question is whether his shooting can stay steady. If it does, his value could end up looking more like a top-75 player.
Jarrett Allen also checked in inside the top 100, landing at No. 64.
Sixteen bigs were ranked ahead of him, including forwards with size like Lauri Markkanen and Julius Randle in that category. Allen has built his reputation on being ready when it matters, and that showed in the playoffs when he put up 22 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks in Game 7 against the Raptors, the best postseason game of his Cleveland career.
His role has never been about volume, but his efficiency has remained steady. He’s also been working on his 3-point shot and knocked one down in rhythm against the Magic in the preseason. If that becomes part of his game, his value only rises.
For a team heading into the 2026-27 season, the overall picture looks strong. The East will be tough, but Cleveland has a starting five that looks dangerous, with the bench ready to help as well. And for Mitchell in particular, the rankings should only add another chip to carry into the year.
In Other News...
Jarrett Allen Trade Buzz Puts The Cavs In A Tough Spot
Trade talk around Jarrett Allen has been hard to miss, but the Cavaliers center is taking it in stride after another strong season in Cleveland. Allen has been a key piece on both ends of the floor, giving the Cavs size, rim protection and steady production inside while helping anchor what has been one of the teams most important frontcourt roles.
Allen acknowledged the speculation, but he has kept his focus on staying ready and being the best player he can be. For Cleveland, that creates a familiar kind of tension in the offseason: a player the team clearly values is also the kind of name that tends to surface whenever rival front offices start looking for help, leaving the Cavs to weigh stability against the noise around him. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen Trade Buzz Puts Cleveland In A Tough Spot
Jarrett Allen has drawn interest from multiple NBA teams, but the Cavaliers have been steady in their response. Cleveland has listened to the calls, yet none of the offers on the table have been convincing enough to make the roster better, which is the only bar the front office appears willing to use in a potential deal. Allens value to the Cavaliers remains tied to more than his name recognition, with the team viewing him as a major part of what it wants to keep intact.
The bigger challenge for Cleveland is what Allen represents in the bigger picture of the frontcourt. The Cavs see him and Evan Mobley as the interior pairing they are counting on to stabilize the defense, so moving Allen would have to come with a clear upgrade elsewhere. For now, no proposal has met that standard, and the team has declined every inquiry while the market keeps poking around. [Read more 🡒]
Charge Just Signaled Which Young Talent They'll Prioritize This Season
With the G League season approaching, the Cleveland Charge and Oklahoma City Blue have already made a move that hints at how each club wants to shape its roster. The teams swapped returning player rights in a deal that centered on Cleveland forward Zack Austin, a familiar developmental piece who logged significant minutes for Oklahoma City last season and remains part of the Charge's plans going forward.
For Cleveland, the transaction clears a path to keep leaning into Austin while rearranging its broader list of young talent. Oklahoma City picked up the returning player rights to Killian Hayes, Justyn Hamilton and Babatunde Akingbola, along with a 2026 second-round pick, in a deal that reflects the early roster chessboard of the upcoming season. It is one of those small-but-telling G League moves that can quietly shape which prospects a team is most prepared to prioritize. [Read more 🡒]