CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers begin their 2026-27 season Thursday night in Philadelphia with championship expectations and a familiar question hanging over the team: Can they finally get over the hump?
Cleveland finished last season 52-30 and reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. That was an important step forward, but the Cavaliers were swept by the New York Knicks, ending a promising postseason four victories short of the NBA Finals.
Now, with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen returning, Cleveland enters another season believing it has the talent to compete for both an Eastern Conference championship as well as an NBA championship.
A Full Season With Mitchell and Harden
One of the biggest differences this season is that Mitchell and Harden will have a full year together after Harden arrived in February's trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The two guards helped Cleveland reach the conference finals despite having only a few months to build chemistry. With an entire training camp behind them, coach Kenny Atkinson has had more time to develop an offense around their ability to create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.
Mitchell remains Cleveland's primary scoring threat, while Harden gives the Cavaliers another experienced ballhandler who can control the offense and create opportunities for Mobley and Allen around the basket.
The Cavaliers have also committed to keeping their core together. Mitchell signed a four-year contract extension during the offseason, while Harden returned on a new three-year deal.
Cleveland has plenty of offensive talent, but the Cavaliers need that group to perform more consistently against the league's best opponents. Last season's sweep by New York showed that reaching the conference finals and competing for a championship aren't quite the same thing.
New Faces, Familiar Expectations
The Cavaliers made several changes around their returning starters, adding Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and rookie Meleek Thomas, among others.
Watson could be particularly important. His size and defensive versatility give Cleveland another option against opposing wings, an area where the Cavaliers struggled during their playoff series against New York.
The changes also mean Atkinson will have to establish a new bench rotation. Players such as Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill will have opportunities to contribute alongside the newcomers, although Merrill's right elbow soreness has been something the team has monitored during the final week of preseason preparations.
Merrill returned to full practice Tuesday, an encouraging development ahead of the opener. Cleveland will also begin the season without forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who was diagnosed with a lower-back stress reaction and is scheduled to be reevaluated in approximately three to four weeks.
The roster looks different from the one that ended last season, particularly on the wings and the bench. How quickly the new players settle into their roles will help determine whether Cleveland can improve on last year's postseason performance.
Philadelphia Provides the First Test
Cleveland opens against a Philadelphia team that already has one regular-season victory, having defeated the New York Knicks, 106-100, on Tuesday. And it's a team that also features LeBron James who chose the 76ers over a homecoming to the Cavs.
The 76ers finished 45-37 last season and enter the new year hoping to compete with the Eastern Conference's stronger teams. For Cleveland, Thursday offers an early opportunity to see how its revamped roster performs against a playoff-caliber opponent.
One regular-season opener won't tell us whether the Cavaliers are ready to win a championship. But after making the conference finals last season, Cleveland has every reason to expect more from itself this year.
The Cavaliers have assembled a roster capable of making another deep playoff run. Now they need to prove they can take the next step.
What's Next
Cleveland opens the regular season Thursday, October 22, against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
