The Cavaliers’ home schedule is loaded with familiar faces this season, and the biggest reunion on the board comes early.
LeBron James is back in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2017-18 after passing on a possible third stint in Cleveland this offseason and instead joining the Philadelphia 76ers to form a “Big Four.” Philadelphia also brought in Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, so there should be some early-season adjustment period for a roster that still includes Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
That gives Cleveland a chance to lean on its continuity. The Cavs open the year in Philadelphia on Oct. 22, then get James and the 76ers at home for the NBA Cup a few weeks later. It will be a moment worth watching when James walks back into Cleveland after turning down the chance to come home again.
Another former Cavalier will be making the trip with Philadelphia, too: forward Dean Wade, who spent his first seven seasons in Cleveland before signing there.
Kyrie Irving’s return remains a separate storyline, and it has already taken on a long gap. He hasn’t played in Cleveland since the February 2024 classic when Max Strus hit the game-winning buzzer beater from half court.
Between Dallas having to face the Cavs right after the controversial Luka Doncic deal in 2025 and Irving missing all of last season with an ACL injury, Cleveland fans have gone a long stretch without seeing Uncle Drew in person. For now, his only scheduled visit comes in mid-November, though his name is also floating around as a trade candidate.
At 34, he can still take over a game, and if Dallas decides to chase draft assets for the Cooper Flagg era, more Cleveland dates could follow.
New Year’s Eve brings another pair of returns tied to the Donovan Mitchell era. Darius Garland will be back at Rocket Arena as a visitor for the first time after a seven-year run with the Cavs. He was a two-time All-Star and a major part of the franchise’s turnaround in 2021, so a warm reception would hardly be a surprise.
Max Strus is coming back, too. He was the first major free-agent addition Koby Altman brought in to fit around the Core Four, and his toughness and competitive edge were part of what helped Cleveland keep moving forward. Garland and Strus are both also mentioned as possible trade candidates this season, with Los Angeles potentially looking to move its veterans for future assets.
The rest of the visiting list adds even more recognizable names: Ty Jerome with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.; Georges Niang with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.; De’Andre Hunter with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.; and Collin Sexton with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, Mar. 25 at 7 p.m.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Have A Jaylon Tyson Decision They Can't Drag Out
The Cavaliers have their foundation locked in for the foreseeable future, with their starting five already under contract for at least the next three years. That stability gives Cleveland room to think beyond the immediate rotation, and it puts a spotlight on Jaylon Tyson, the wing who has made enough of a jump to merit a real long-term conversation.
Tyson is still on team options for the next two seasons, but he does not yet have the kind of deal that would signal he is part of the franchises extended plan. Cleveland is expected to weigh a rookie extension for him after this season, a decision that could shape whether the Cavs can keep him in place well beyond 2028-29. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen's Cavaliers Role Suddenly Feels Far Less Secure
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Allen has long been most effective when he is more than just a rim-running presence, and last season offered another reminder of how valuable he can be when the ball finds him in better spots. The challenge now is making sure the Cavaliers do not crowd him out as they chase more versatility elsewhere, which leaves plenty of room for lineup tinkering and a few decisions that could shape how secure his role feels once the real games start. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen Looms Over Cavs' Long-Term Title Push
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Jarrett Allen sits at the center of that conversation because of what he means to the current lineup and what his future might look like if the season does not match the teams expectations. Some around the league believe Allen could emerge as a trade candidate, though any move of that sort would also push Mobley into more time at center, a shift that would change both the rotation and the way the Cavaliers imagine their long-term title push. [Read more 🡒]