Tyrese Proctor is in line for a much bigger spotlight in Cleveland, and Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz sees him as the Cavaliers’ top breakout candidate for the 2026-27 season.
That call makes sense on paper. Cleveland’s backcourt and wing depth took a hit this offseason after Dean Wade and Keon Ellis left in free agency, and the team also moved Dennis Schröder and Max Strus in a sign-and-trade to make Peyton Watson possible. With those pieces gone, the door opens wider for younger players off the bench - especially Proctor.
The 22-year-old former Duke guard already gave the Cavaliers something to build on as a rookie. In 50 games last season, he averaged 5.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 41.3% from the field, 35.1% from three and 88.9% at the line. Per 36 minutes, his line looked even more intriguing: 18.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals.
Swartz pointed to Proctor’s summer with Australia in the FIBA World Cup as another reason for optimism. He averaged 19.0 points there and hit 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland may have more scoring punch available than it did a year ago.
Proctor was the 49th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and the roster churn around him gives him a real chance to carve out a larger role next season. He’s expected to see minutes alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, which could put him right in the middle of the action if he takes the next step.
Cleveland opens next season against LeBron James and the 76ers in Philadelphia, a matchup that should bring plenty of energy right away. And the bigger picture around the Cavaliers is just as interesting, with a core of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen facing the challenge of turning all that talent into a championship run.
The summer’s biggest move was keeping Mitchell in place. He signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with Cleveland, and the Cavs are clearly betting on the star guard to keep carrying the offense. Since arriving from the Utah Jazz in 2022, Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 in the playoffs in a Cavaliers uniform.
In Other News...
Cavs Add A Familiar Shooter With Something Bigger To Prove
Sean McNeil is getting another shot in Cleveland, this time with the Cavaliers on an Exhibit-10 contract after previously spending time with the Cleveland Charge. The shooting guard has built his reputation around the perimeter, and he showed it last season with the Charge by averaging 10 points per game while knocking down 42% of his threes.
The move does not point toward a likely opening on the main roster, but it does keep McNeil in the organization and positions him to return to the Charge. For a player whose calling card is floor spacing, the next step is less about a camp invite than about turning a familiar opportunity into a stronger case for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Darius Garland Keeps Surfacing In Trade Talks That Should Grab Cavs Fans
Darius Garland keeps popping up in the kind of trade chatter that tends to follow talented guards with uncertain fits, and this latest idea has enough moving parts to make Cavaliers fans pay attention. The San Antonio Spurs have built a young core around Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, with some already drawing the kind of lofty backcourt comparisons that come with big expectations, and that has only sharpened the discussion about how they might shape the roster around that group.
One version floating around would send Garland to San Antonio in a deal involving DeAaron Fox, a framework suggested by Bill Simmons and kicked around by analysts as the Spurs weigh their guard rotation. For Cleveland, the real takeaway is less about the specific mechanics than the larger point: Garland is being treated around the league as a likely trade candidate this season, which is the sort of buzz that can hang over a team whether it likes it or not. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Atkinson Pressure Is Growing As Familiar Cavs Name Looms
Kenny Atkinson arrived in Cleveland with the expectation that he could help push a talented roster closer to the NBAs biggest stage, but the pressure around the Cavaliers is only getting louder as another Finals run remains out of reach. In a league where patience can disappear quickly, the margin for error shrinks when a team believes it has enough talent to contend right now.
Ty Lue is the familiar name hovering in the background, and his connection to the Cavs makes the speculation feel especially relevant if the franchise decides a change is needed after another disappointing finish. For now, Atkinson remains in place, but the possibility of Lue becoming available has added a layer of intrigue to Clevelands coaching picture that will only grow if the postseason ends without the breakthrough the organization is chasing. [Read more 🡒]