Cleveland’s path this season is going to be shaped by two things at once: a crowded Eastern Conference and a Cavaliers roster that still has to prove it can click on both ends of the floor.
On Wine and Gold Talk, host Ethan Sands laid out just how packed the East looks heading into the year.
“I count personally nine teams that have a legitimate argument for believing they could finish in the top six,” Sands said on the podcast.
He pointed to Cleveland, Detroit, Boston, New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, Miami and Indiana as part of that mix, while also mentioning Washington because of the additions of Trae Young, Anthony Davis and the first overall pick AJ Dybantsa. The exact order is up for debate. The bigger takeaway is that the conference is deep enough that nobody, including a veteran Cavs team, can coast and expect to flip a switch later.
That pressure lands on a Cleveland group that has had the same flaw for years: it has not consistently been elite offensively and defensively at the same time.
“When they lean into offense, the defense suffers,” Sands said. “When they lean into defense, the offense suffers. They’re trying to find a way to mesh the two and have their net rating be in the top five in the NBA because we know the teams that are able to do that are better suited to perform in the postseason.”
That top-five net rating benchmark matters because it usually points to teams that can survive the grind of the playoffs, when pace drops and opponents take away easy answers. Cleveland has enough talent to chase that level, but only if the pieces actually fit together.
A lot of that starts with Evan Mobley.
If the Cavs are going to become more balanced, Mobley has to do more than finish plays. He needs to grow into an offensive creator who can make his own shot and ease the burden on James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Sands was blunt about the challenge. Mobley can’t simply repeat last season’s pattern, when he got more creative responsibility but ran into heavier defensive attention and turned the ball over. What Cleveland needs is a move he can rely on, one that forces defenses to react instead of just waiting him out.
There’s also a real question in the frontcourt behind Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Sands expects those two to soak up nearly every center minute in a playoff run, which makes the backup power forward spot a key issue once Mobley slides to center. Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are all in the mix, but no answer is settled yet, and that makes it one of the bigger camp questions facing the team.
Still, Sands sees a possible way forward. If Peyton Watson brings defensive versatility, Jaylon Tyson adds offensive creation and Mobley keeps developing, Cleveland could build something it has not always had: a roster that doesn’t have to give up one end of the court to keep the other afloat.
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 🡒]