Cleveland Cavaliers season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS2025-26 finish

Record: 52-30 (4th in the East, lost 4-0 in East finals to Knicks)

Offseason moves

Draft: Meleek Thomas (No. 34)

Signings: Thomas Bryant (re-signed for 1 year, $3.5 million), Mario Hezonja (1 year, $2.8 million), Donovan Mitchell (4-year, $273 million extension), James Harden (re-signed for 3 years, $97 million)

Trades: Peyton Watson (from Nuggets via sign-and-trade; 4 years, $88 million)

Key departures: Keon Ellis (signed with Nets), Dean Wade (signed with 76ers), Larry Nance Jr. (signed with Pacers), Max Strus (traded to Clippers), Dennis Schröder (traded to Hornets)

Current roster

What can Donovan Mitchell and James Harden do with a full season together? (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)Cole Burston via Getty ImagesPreseason Power Rankings: No. 11

What's exciting: JamesHarden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley played only 90 minutes together during the regular season last year. They barely got any reps as a unit before the playoffs began. And despite that, the team made it to the East finals. I've been plenty critical of the path there, taking 14 games to dispose of a young Raptors team and a broken Pistons team. But they still got there. With a full year together, maybe this group can develop the type of chemistry that can translate to the playoffs and lead to a championship.

What's concerning: I'm not convinced Cleveland's depth is actually any better. Peyton Watson is a solid role player, but aside from an awesome 15-game stretch last season, he was precisely just that: A solid role player! Mario Hezonja has never shot 3s well in the NBA, so we'll see if his recent success overseas can carry over. The outgoing role players had their limitations, but they also had some clear strengths that supported the stars. And ultimately, if the stars don't get better, then this team won't be able to take the next step either. — Kevin O'Connor 

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Fantasy watch

Peyton Watson looked good in his preseason debut: 7 points with 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. The hamstring issue seems behind him. He's good value after pick 100. Head coach Kenny Atkinson specifically praised the Jaylon Tyson-Watson wing pairing and Tyson led the team with 14 points while James Harden rested against Boston. — Dan Titus

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

2026-27 schedule

Opening week: 10/22 at 76ers, 10/24 vs. Nets

Complete schedule

Betting perspective

47.5 — win total

+150 to win division

+2500 to win NBA Finals

Best case, worst case

Best case: No. 1 seed

Call me crazy if you must: If the Cavs get at least 60 games of Harden, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen together, they're going 40-20 at worst. This should be a top-10 unit on both ends of the floor. If Watson fills the appropriate gaps at the 3, and the reserves do well with more minutes, they could and should absolutely churn out wins. The major non-health questions I have for this team are almost exclusively through a playoff lens.

Worst case: Play-In Tournament

The East is incredibly talented. At least 12 teams are entering this year thinking, if things go right, they could push for a top-10 spot, if not a playoff spot outright. There's obviously a world where the Cavs deal with injuries to Harden, Allen and others that could lower their floor. Beyond that, there's sneaky "what if we just switch against them" potential with their offense that could lead to a good-but-not-elite ranking. That, the defensive backcourt concerns, and the general strength of the conference could have them land lower than expected. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Central Division preview