CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have wrapped up their preseason, and while three exhibition games aren't enough to draw sweeping conclusions, they did provide an interesting look at what the team might have heading into the 2026-27 season.
Cleveland finished 1-2, dropping its opener to Boston before splitting two games with Orlando. The Cavaliers closed their exhibition schedule Tuesday with a 132-116 loss to the Magic, although the results themselves weren't nearly as important as the opportunity to evaluate the roster.
With several new faces joining an established group of veterans, head coach Kenny Atkinson has some decisions to make before the regular season begins. Here are three things that stood out.
1. Peyton Watson's Defense Is Already Making an Impact
Cleveland brought in Peyton Watson to provide athleticism, size, and defensive versatility on the wing, and the early returns suggest those qualities should translate immediately.
Watson started all three preseason games, recording two blocked shots in two of those appearances and adding two steals in Sunday's 119-105 victory over Orlando. His ability to challenge shots and defend multiple positions gives Cleveland another option alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Offensively, however, Watson is still finding his place.
He scored 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting in Tuesday's preseason finale, but his three-point shooting remains a work in progress. He made just one of his five attempts from beyond the arc against Orlando.
Cleveland won't necessarily need Watson to become a high-volume scorer, particularly with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden handling much of the offense. If he can provide reliable perimeter defense while contributing enough offensively to keep opponents honest, he has an opportunity to become an important part of Cleveland's starting lineup.
2. Cleveland Has More Bench Options Than It Did a Year Ago
One of the more encouraging developments was the play of Cleveland's reserves, particularly Jaylon Tyson and newcomer Mario Hezonja.
Tyson followed an impressive second NBA season with another productive preseason, averaging 13 points while shooting 60 percent from the field and making five of his 10 three-point attempts. He scored in double figures in all three games, providing the kind of dependable production Cleveland will need from its second unit.
Hezonja also demonstrated why the Cavaliers were interested in bringing him back to the NBA after six seasons overseas.
The 31-year-old forward scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds, and contributed two assists, two steals, and two blocks in Sunday's victory over Orlando. He followed that performance with 12 points and six rebounds in Tuesday's finale.
His versatility could prove particularly useful for Atkinson, who experimented with Hezonja handling some point guard responsibilities during the preseason.
Thomas Bryant also provided encouraging production, averaging 9.3 points while shooting 10-of-13 from the field across the three games.
With Tyson continuing to develop and Hezonja capable of filling several roles, Cleveland appears to have additional flexibility when building its rotations.
Of course, that doesn't even account for Meleek Thomas, Cleveland's top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. While it's difficult to predict how much a rookie will contribute in his first season, the 20-year-old guard has already shown enough promise on both ends of the court to suggest the Cavaliers may have found a solid addition. The quicker Thomas adjusts to the NBA game, the more dangerous Cleveland's rotation could become.
3. The Backup Point Guard Situation Remains Unresolved
While the Cavaliers have plenty of established talent in their starting lineup, the competition for backup backcourt minutes remains unsettled.
Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor, and rookie Meleek Thomas all received opportunities during the preseason, and each brings something different to the rotation.
Porter made perhaps the strongest case as a traditional facilitator, averaging 5.6 assists across three games. His 10-assist performance against Boston demonstrated his ability to organize the offense and create opportunities for teammates.
Thomas, meanwhile, provided one of the preseason's most impressive individual scoring bursts.
The rookie scored a team-high 16 points in Tuesday's loss to Orlando, including 14 in the fourth quarter. He connected on six of his nine field goal attempts overall and made two of three shots from beyond the arc.
The performance offered an encouraging glimpse of his scoring potential, although establishing himself as a dependable NBA ball-handler will require more than an impressive offensive quarter.
Proctor also remains in the competition, giving Atkinson several options as he determines how to distribute minutes behind his established guards.
Of course, not everything about Cleveland's preseason was encouraging. The Cavaliers struggled defensively in Tuesday's finale, allowing Orlando to shoot 51.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range. The Magic repeatedly found scoring opportunities against a Cleveland defense that will need to be considerably sharper when the regular season begins.
Still, there were enough positive developments to give Atkinson some flexibility moving forward. Watson has already shown his defensive value, Tyson and Hezonja offer encouraging depth, and the backup backcourt competition provides several possibilities.
Three games won't answer every question, but the Cavaliers have a clearer picture of their roster heading into the regular season. Now comes the more difficult task of turning that potential into consistent production when the games begin to count.
