The Cleveland Cavaliers are quietly positioning themselves as dark horse championship contenders, with the potential to be a Top 4 team in the Eastern Conference this season. Donovan Mitchell‘s contract extension removes any offseason uncertainty, securing the All-Star guard for at least the next three years. Now, the focus shifts to new head coach Kenny Atkinson, who inherits a talented roster returning with the same formidable starting five.
After a promising run last year, the Cavaliers are poised to aim higher. Anything less than a deep playoff run will be considered a disappointment. Mitchell, one of the elite guards in the league, is a dynamic scorer who can create his own shot, facilitate for his teammates, and attack the rim. His backcourt partner, Darius Garland, also dealt with injuries in the postseason, but when healthy, the duo forms one of the most potent backcourts in the NBA.
The Cavs’ starting five – Mitchell, Garland, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen – ranks among the best in the league. While there may be concerns about depth, the combination of Mobley and Allen gives Cleveland a defensive edge, especially in the paint, where both excel as shot-blockers, averaging 1.4 and 1.1 blocks per game, respectively, last season. Mobley, only 22, continues to develop into a star, and his growth will be key to Cleveland’s success this season.
As the team looks to avoid the luxury tax (after re-signing Okoro), potential roster moves may involve cutting non-guaranteed contracts like Tristan Thompson or Sam Merrill. However, with the same roster largely intact, Atkinson’s coaching and Mobley’s continued development, particularly in improving floor spacing, will be the key factors in propelling the Cavaliers into serious championship contention.
The team has a total payroll of $183,350,669 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 13th in the NBA.
Returning: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Tristan Thompson, Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill, Zhaire Smith, Craig Porter, Pete Nance, Emoni Bates.
Additions: Jaylon Tyson (California), Jacob Gilyard (Brooklyn), Zhaire Smith (Cleveland, G League), Jules Bernard (Washington), Luke Travers (Melbourne),
Departures: Damian Jones (to Zhejiang), Isaiah Mobley (to Philadelphia)
Nick Cammett/Getty Images
New head coach Kenny Atkinson inherits a formidable starting five that provides the Cavs with both offensive firepower and defensive strength. If the young players off the bench develop properly, along with the team’s top-tier defense, Cleveland is positioned to be a top team in the league.
Depth concerns and three-point shooting inconsistencies remain. While they added some shooting, they are still a league-average three-point shooting team, with little improvement. Their lack of depth could also result in a reliance on young talent for significant contributions.
Nick Cammett/Getty Images
HoopsHype: 2nd in the Central Division, 5th in the Eastern Conference
ESPN: 1st in the Central Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference
Sportsbooks: 48.5 projected wins
HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365.
