Despite falling short last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still viewed as the favorites in the Eastern Conference heading into the new season.
The star quarter of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland should be capable of dominating the East. Injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton have buoyed the Cavaliers’ chances of success. The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers are both out of the running for a championship next season.
In a recent article for ESPN, Kevin Pelton shared his belief that Cleveland is the team to beat in the East. He noted the additions of Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. could be enough to put the franchise over the top.
“We’ll see how much the Cavaliers get from Lonzo Ball, limited to 35 games last season by wrist injuries after 2½ years off the court due to his left knee. Ball was a low-cost pickup for Cleveland to help replace Ty Jerome, lost to help manage the Cavaliers’ sizeable tax bill. So too was bringing back Larry Nance Jr. as a third center. Despite the loss of Jerome, Cleveland looks like the favorite to win the East.”
Cleveland fell short in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how that setback impacts the way they approach the upcoming regular season, especially with Garland expected to miss some time to begin the campaign.
Cavaliers Praised for Offseason Moves
In a recent article for NBA.com, Briant Martin praised the Cavaliers for the addition of the Lonzo Ball.
“When Cleveland lost Ty Jerome in free agency, the Cavs had a hole in their backcourt bench and acquired Ball from Chicago in exchange for Isaac Okoro,” Martin wrote. “Ball returned to the court last season after missing the previous two seasons with a left knee injury that required multiple surgeries to repair…Ball’s return to the court after missing over 1,000 days was a triumph in and of itself. Now, he has an opportunity to continue working his way back to his full potential on a title contender.”
Ball is a swing factor for Cleveland. If he can finally put his three-year-long injury issues behind him, he will undoubtedly raise the Cavaliers’ ceiling. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that’s how things will play out.
Lonzo Ball Gets Real on Injury Issues
During his introductory news conference with the Cavaliers, Ball gave an honest and well-thought-out answer regarding his recent injury struggles.
“I’m just making sure I’m prepared to be as available as possible and put myself in the best position to finish the season strong…June and July, it’s not really about basketball for me at this moment. You know, it’s more so just in the weight room, making sure my lower body is good and stuff like that.”
Not only could Ball elevate the Cavaliers’ second unit, but he could also challenge for a starting spot. His defense could make him an ideal fit next to Mitchell. However, that would mean bringing Garland off the bench.
Kenny Atkinson may have some tough decisions and even tougher conversations waiting for him once the season is underway.
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