Five predictions for the Cavs' 2026-27 season from a diehard fan
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The Cavs tip off the 2026-27 season tonight in Philadelphia against LeBron James and the 76ers.
Why it matters: Good Lord, already?
- We'll have had less than 72 hours to process the playoff demise of the Guardians, but time waits for no one.
Zoom in: The Cavs have one of the strongest (and costliest) starting lineups in the NBA and will once again face pressure to achieve postseason success in a suddenly powerhouse Eastern Conference.
- Here's how I think things will play out.
📈 The Cavs will earn a top-three seed
State of play: The East is crowded, granted, but many of the other projected top teams have significant health risks (76ers), roster holes (Pistons) or a gnarly championship hangover (Knicks).
Prediction: The Cavs win 50+ games for the fourth time in five seasons and secure home court in the first round of the playoffs.
🤩 Peyton Watson is the answer at small forward
State of play: The Cavs have cycled through starting small forwards since the second departure of LeBron.
- A return of the King would have been a joyous and deeply emotional sendoff.
- Yes, but: Watson, acquired this offseason from the Denver Nuggets, has the size, youth and athleticism to be a long-term core piece.
Prediction: He'll be a defensive menace, leading the team in steals and trailing only Evan Mobley in blocks. He'll average between 12-14 points per game.
🕷️ Donovan Mitchell will sacrifice for the greater good
State of play: Mitchell now has four complete seasons under his belt as a Cavalier. The team's best regular-season performance (in '24-25) coincided with his lowest scoring numbers (24.0 points per game).
Prediction: Mitchell will dip even lower (say, 23.2 ppg), as he facilitates the continued growth of his teammates. He will be rewarded with a spot on the All-NBA third team.
🔥 Meleek Thomas will emerge as a certified flame-thrower
State of play: The rookie was a summer league sensation and appears to be a second-round steal for the Cavs, but he'll be vying for backup guard minutes alongside Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor.
Prediction: Thomas will emerge as the most valuable of the three, a deep-threat specialist who can space the floor and provide an offensive spark off the bench.
🥊 "DAZN" (da-zone) will become a curse word
State of play: Awful Announcing ranks the Cavs dead last in NBA viewer accessibility, thanks to their recent exclusive partnership with DAZN, a boxing platform. Fans will have access to only 15 games without splurging on expensive streaming services.
Prediction: It's going to be a big ol' pain in the ass.