Cleveland Cavaliers 2026-27 NBA Preseason Preview

· Yahoo Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ questions of the past mostly remain unanswered.

The Cavs’ 2025-26 season was quite middle-of-the-road. An Eastern Conference Finals appearance and two Game 7 victories look nice on paper, but after considering the 4-0 ECF defeat and their ongoing star struggles, the bright feeling soon turns neutral.

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Before the playoff elimination, the team saw more change than they’ve had in years. After recurring injuries, the team traded Darius Garland for former MVP James Harden, shaking up the core that’s kept Cleveland in consistent playoff contention for years.

The team couldn’t replicate their 64-win No. 1 seed in the 2024-25 regular season, but 52 wins and the No. 4 seed are serviceable. James Harden did much the same as Garland, running the pick-and-roll and serving as the offensive engine. Harden is officially locked into The Land for what could be his last ride, signing a three-year, $97 million extension.

As for Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, it was more or less the same story as in years past.

Mitchell’s 27.9 points per game and 61.3 true shooting percentage earned him All-NBA second-team honors and a $273 million extension.

Although Mobley’s three-point shooting once again dropped below 30%, he was arguably the team’s best player in the playoffs, highlighted by his 3.9 assists per game, ranking fifth among centers.

As for Allen, he’s been in a slow, steady decline. His field goal percentage fell by over 6%, and his 8.5 rebounds per game is his lowest since 2019. His paint presence and touch are still among the league’s finest, but his All-Star days may officially be behind him.

The Cavs core’s similarities to years past give them expectations of their previous results: somewhere between potential first-round exits and the chance to make a real run.

Cavs’ Biggest Offseason Loss: Max Strus

Cleveland saw formidable player turnover this offseason, headlined by wing Max Strus.

Since he joined the team in 2023, he was third on the team in three-point attempts per game at 6.5. His quick, relentless trigger was a lethal weapon for the Cavs and helped capitalize on Garland and Mitchell’s constant drive-and-kicks.

Strus’s final season with the franchise was plagued by injury, only playing 12 regular season games. In his three seasons with the team, he provided consistent offense, averaging 11.0 points, shooting nearly 37% from deep, and serving as a solid connective passer, always in the 80th percentile or above in rim assists.

They will now look to younger wings Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson, as well as some of their free-agent acquisitions, to step up.

Aside from Strus, Cleveland also lost franchise veteran Dean Wade, along with midseason acquisitions Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis.

Wade, now a Philadelphia 76er, will be sorely missed. He led the team in NET rating throughout the 2026 playoffs and guarded multiple No. 1 scoring options. Wade excelled at guarding All-Stars Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Cade Cunningham, holding each to under 16.0 points per game per 75 possessions, with all having over a 100-possession sample size.

Ellis and Schröder will not be missed to this extent, as both struggled in the playoffs. But Ellis brought exceptional defensive playmaking and was second on the team in steals + blocks per game (2.1). Though Schröder shot just 38.1% from the field in the playoffs, he did bring immense rim pressure. He led the playoffs in drives per game among players averaging 20 minutes or fewer.

The Cavs lost some key veterans, but what they gained is just as noteworthy.

Cavs’ Biggest Offseason Addition: Peyton Watson

Cleveland has taken the swing and is putting their trust in Watson’s 2026 leap. Peyton Watson was the only legitimate free-agent move they made this offseason, and he could be the missing piece.

He was the Denver Nuggets’ premier perimeter defender and athlete for years, and added multiple, much-needed layers last season. His shooting and shot creation took an immense jump, which earned him a significant payday. Watson posted career highs in on-ball%, true shooting%, three-point attempts, and points per game (up 6.5 points).

Whether it was with Strus or De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs have been longing for a true forward to complement their big four in the starting lineup. Watson’s proven on-ball defense, transition play, and athleticism are core components of what they’ve been searching for. The make-or-break of the signing, though, will be whether Watson maintains last season’s shot-creation ability.

Cavs Best-Case Scenario Outcome:

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ best-case scenario is actually easy to imagine. Their 2025, 64-win regular season is still very possible. There’s still a big four, and Harden has repeatedly proven he can lead an elite offense.

A full season of Harden with Mobley and Allen could also unlock a more dangerous lob game. Harden has a track record of unlocking his big men’s scoring in the paint, and Allen and Mobley could be his best weapons yet. This dimension was not as present under Garland’s quarterbacking, despite his otherwise great facilitating.

Another feasible reality for this squad is that Peyton Watson keeps, or even builds on, the offensive leap he made last season. His two-way impact, mixed with the All-Star starting lineup, will bring an all-around lineup the core has sorely missed.

As for the bench, the shooting talent is off the charts. Already with sharpshooters Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson, they added Meleek Thomas in the 2026 Draft. Thomas, the Summer League standout, showed his behind-the-arc shotmaking. These three could lead the league’s best shooting bench.

In the playoffs, things must change. Mobley finally needs a scoring boost and to take more of a charge in the offense. Harden and Mitchell’s playoff woes are well-documented, but they don’t always tear down the entire team. In more backseat roles, with Mobley initiating more offense, the change could be enough for the Cavs to make a push for the Finals.

Cavs Worst-Case Scenario Outcome:

Unfortunately, Cleveland’s worst-case scenario is also easy to imagine.

Three of their four All-Stars are on the wrong side of their primes. Any further athletic decline could have serious consequences, with Jarrett Allen seemingly heading in this direction.

The Eastern Conference is possibly the best it’s ever been, and the Cavs can easily get lost in the shuffle. New contenders like the Sixers and Miami Heat, along with fully healthy finals teams, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, make the conference nearly impossible to predict.

The Pacers and Celtics have both eliminated Cleveland in the playoffs in recent years, and the New York Knicks should be atop the East too.

The near-surefire health of the Cavs’ stars gives them a high floor in regular-season outcomes, so making the playoffs shouldn’t be an issue. But in the playoffs, their roster changes may not be enough to match up against old and new contenders.

Fast-paced, high-energy teams like Philly, Indiana, Boston, and New York could overwhelm the older, slower defensive backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Their defensive struggles are the main reason the team ranks 12th in playoff defensive rating and bottom four in both offensive and defensive transition play.

The proven scoring struggles of the team’s stars and upgraded Eastern Conference talent could lead to a swift Round 1 exit.

Cavs Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-27 Season

The Land will be waiting to see how much Evan Mobley increases his aggressiveness on offense.

Improvement, whether it is a more efficient, higher-volume three-point shot, more moves from the low block, or truly taking centers and forwards off the dribble, will greatly determine how different this Cavs roster is.

If he finally makes this evolution, top-10 player talks can happen, the future doesn’t feel so bleak, and the potential is through the roof for Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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