RSS Cavs Team Notes

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs reportedly invite five players to training camp, including former lottery pick

The Cleveland Cavaliers will open up training camp at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida, next week. We now know who will be joining their group of 14 players under contract and two two-way players.

Chris Fedor of cleveland.com reported on Tuesday that the Cavs will be adding five players to their training camp roster, which includes former Detroit Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes. Cleveland will also be bringing along Norchad Omier, Tristan Enaruna, Chaney Johnson, and Jaxson Robinson.

#Cavs are inviting a handful of players to training camp next week. Along with former first-round pick Killian Hayes (likely to join the Charge), it will be Norchad Omier, Tristan Enaruna, Chaney Johnson and Jaxson Robinson.

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) September 23, 2025

Hayes highlights this list. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but never lived up to that draft position. He struggled during his four seasons in Detroit despite getting ample playing time for what was then a rebuilding team. Hayes’s lack of a jumper has been an issue as he’s shot 38.3% from the floor and 28.1% from three in 216 career games.

Hayes spent most of last season with the Long Island Nets in the G League. There, he averaged 17.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 33 games on .463/.371/.689 shooting splits. This was good enough to earn him a brief ten-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

As part of the training camp invite, the Cleveland Charge, G League affiliate of the Cavs, traded for Hayes’s rights. He’s expected to spend the season with the Charge. Because Hayes has more than four years of service time, he can’t sign a two-way deal with the Cavs or any other NBA team.

Tristan Enaruna is the other name that jumps out on this list. He had a solid Summer League for the Cavs. The former Cleveland State Viking spent a portion of last season with the Maine Celtics. He averaged 11 points on .466/.182/.857 shooting splits to go along with 3.3 rebounds and two assists per contest in three appearances last season.

The Cavs have one remaining roster spot and one open two-way spot heading into camp. Given how they’ve handled the last few seasons, the Cavaliers will likely keep that roster spot open heading into the season so that they have flexibility for in-season moves. They would be expected to fill their open two-way slots based on recent history. We’ll see if any of the camp invites claim that spot.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...ian-hayes-tristan-enaruna-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Season Preview: Time for De’Andre Hunter to gel

The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to push their chips in on acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks last trade deadline. This signaled that the Cavaliers were all in on the season and added their first true small forward to the roster.

In acquiring Hunter, the Cavaliers were expecting a true three-point threat on the wing who could allow for more lineup versatility due to his size. Hunter in the first half the season, showed an ability to self-create and knock three pointers on the catch and shoot at an elite clip. The regular season with the Wine and Gold provided a more variable version of this, given the minutes decrease and a more talented team, this was a non-issue.

This good play didn’t necessarily translate to the postseason. Hunter, in eight postseason contests, scored 11 points per game. If you remove the series against the JV version of the Miami Heat, Hunter scored 9 points per contest on a 41% field goal and 30% three-point shooting split. Hunter was needed much more in that Indiana series, with all the injuries, and it never felt like it really clicked once the pecking order was readjusted.

Simply put, Hunter’s game didn’t translate to the postseason last year.

Hunter is a gifted scorer. If he can pick up on the rhythm and movement that comes with the Kenny Atkinson offense, he should flourish. Last season, he still carried bad habits that he’s picked up throughout his career. He was calling his own number on possessions where it felt out of place. The worst thing you can be in the Atkinson offense is a ball stopper, especially when the shot feels forced and out of rhythm. Hopefully, with a full summer and training camp to digest the offensive philosophy, Hunter finds his place within the offense.

The Cavaliers are already happy to have Hunter on the team, given the way injuries have fallen out; however, Hunter has shown an ability to be flexible in the roles he has donned thus far. In Atlanta he was in contention for Sixth Man of the Year and allowed to dominate the ball. In Cleveland, he found himself fluctuating between being an off-ball role player, sixth man, and small-ball four.

The versatility Hunter possesses is something the Cleveland doesn’t really have on their roster. Hunter has a case for being the most adaptable player on the team, whether in terms of position or role. This is something Atkinson should be able to better utilize after a complete offseason. If Hunter delivers this season, it will be by finding a way to gel with the Cavaliers in the various roles he will have this season.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...on-preview-deandre-hunter-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Season Preview: The Jarrett Allen criticism has gone too far

Jarrett Allen is the poster child for consistency from NBA Bigs. He’s been a crucial component in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ ascent while being a walking double-double most nights. However, when trade talks emerge regarding the Cavaliers, Allen’s name is the first one thrown out.

Allen’s consistency and reliability don’t come with stretches where he takes over entire games. Thus, it feels like Allen is considered a safer option and more expendable in exchange for a player who offers more dynamism.

Another narrative in the anti-Jarrett Allen hive revolves around how he sometimes spends the closing minutes of competitive games on the bench. It’s a fair argument that someone who is a franchise cornerstone should be good enough to be on the floor in pivotal moments. However, in today’s NBA, versatility is king, so it’s rare unless you have a Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, or Anthony Davis type of center, it’s tough to stay on the floor in the closing minutes.

Something often overlooked by the general fandom is that, despite his limitations, Allen is one of the best bargains in the NBA. At his current price point of $20 million for 2025-2026, Allen is currently a cheaper player than the likes of Myles Turner ($27 million), Nicholas Claxton ($24.5 million), Naz Reid ($25 million), and Issiah Hartenstein ($29 million). Even at the nearly $30 million that Allen is set to make in his newer 2026-2028 deal, this is still a great contract with the ever-increasing salary cap.

For the upcoming season, it would be a surprise if Allen strays far from his double-double play. As fellow front-court partner Evan Mobley’s star continues to rise, it seems unlikely that Allen will be in the All-Star conversation again. However, the worst thing we can do is to assume that just because Mobley outshines Allen night to night, that this deems Allen expendable.

It is worth noting that without Darius Garland and Max Strus to start the year, Allen could see more opportunities on the offensive end. Some of his most dominant stretches have been when the Cavaliers are down a starter or two. You do not have to remember too far back when Allen and Donovan Mitchell were a two-man wrecking crew during that 21-2 stretch in the 2023-24 season. Allen has constantly shown an ability to fill in with that next man up situation that the Cavaliers are certainly privy to.

What Allen needs in order for this season to be deemed a success is to show up in the playoffs. This isn’t going to be an Allen needs to be more alpha-male conversation. It’s more about how he needs to become less invisible when the lights are bright. He is an elite rim protector and is a better rebounder than the playoff stat sheet has shown over the years. However, too often, the narrative is how Allen is outshone by whoever is matched up across from him. Whether it’s Mitchell Robinson or Myles Turner, Allen is never the name at the top of the list for difference makers in a series. That is the issue.

We know what Allen can do in the regular season. He’s coming off of playing all 82 games. Now, all eyes turn to what he can prove in the postseason. Allen has turned into one of the main scapegoats for the Cavaliers’ postseason woes. While some points are fair, they are swaying the perception of Allen too far in the negative direction.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...preview-jarrett-allen-nba-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Season Preview: Does Cleveland’s title chance rest on Darius Garland’s toe?

Last season, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland played a relatively healthy regular season. That resulted in another All-Star nomination, a complete 180-degree turn after some serious doubts about his fit with Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs’ front office bet on a Garland turning it around, and that was the correct decision.

Then Garland did get hurt, inexplicably, in the Cavs’ first-round series against the Miami Heat. He never fully recovered, looked one or two steps slow when he did play against the Indiana Pacers, and had to get a fairly serious surgery in the offseason. How serious you may ask? Garland likely won’t be fully ready for the regular season.

That muddies Garland’s outlook for the 2025-26 campaign somewhat, but it’s hard not to be intrigued by how well he played last year. In Kenny Atkinson’s high-powered offense, Garland got up another three-pointer per contest, dramatically improved his efficiency from deep (40.1% up from 37.1%), and reduced his turnovers per game. There is reason to believe that Garland can maintain that level of play with some upside for a little more. The goal should be to work that “little more” heading into the playoffs.

One of the key aspects of Garland’s improvement year-over-year was his confidence. Atkinson instilled some of that by forcing catch-and-shoot three attempts, but a healthy part of that was on Garland himself. Perhaps saying he could get a hit of Paul Skenes is a little ambitious, but it’s hard not to like the mental turnaround for Garland. Remember, it was less than two years ago that Garland looked like a shell of himself, unwilling to get to the rim, take that free-throw line floater, or even take relatively open threes.

The word (or lack thereof) on Garland’s toe injury is the one glaring issue that could not only stunt the beginning of his season, but linger beyond and throughout. When Garland initially injured his toe, the Cavs downplayed the severity of it. Majorly. A four-month recovery is not a ho-hum procedure, that is a significant injury. On May 1st, Atkinson called Garland’s toe ailment “day-to-day,” and he was “moving really well”.

Toe injuries can linger if they do not heal with the appropriate amount of time and recovery. Why would the Cavs rush back one of their three best players for the sake of winning some October games?

The Cavs are, by most measures, the best team in the Eastern Conference on paper. Most agree that the two most important players for them this upcoming season are Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. While that is probably correct, the Cavs need Garland to play like he did last season for them to reach a championship level. The shooting gravity, playmaking, ball-handling, and rim pressure are all crucial to the Cavs’ offensive system. There is a reason that Atkinson made it a point to put Garland in better situations last season compared to prior seasons.

Now, after a very positive season, the Cavs need to carefully maneuver another issue with Garland. It’s slightly less perilous this time around, as there is some cushion to let Garland heal, but toe injuries are pesky. The Cavs’ championship aspirations don’t necessarily hinge on Garland, but it may as well given how good he can be.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...us-garland-cleveland-cavaliers-kenny-atkinson

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs have high hopes for De’Andre Hunter: ‘You could argue he’s been our best player in the offseason’

Media day is full of hope and optimism. There’s always a player or two who receive what seems like hyperbolic praise. Last year, it was Ty Jerome before his breakout campaign. This season, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has narrowed in on one player who’s seemingly stood out from the rest.

“I’ll just say right off the top, De’Andre Hunter, you could argue, he’s been the best player this offseason,” Atkinson said on Tuesday. “He’s had an incredible offseason.”

Every team could use an athletic 6’8” wing that shoots over 40% from three while also providing scoring off the dribble. Those skills have been on display this summer.

“Just watching him out here in the offseason, I’m just sitting next to these guys (Cleveland’s front office), I’m like, ‘This guy is so talented,’” Atkinson said. “He’s got great size, shoots the heck out of the ball. He can get you a bucket in different areas.”

Those skills were apparent last season as well when the Cavs acquired him at the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks. The issue was figuring out how to best use his abilities with a team that already had other high-usage players and lineup synergy.

“De’Andre joined us when we were in the middle of a 14-game winning streak, which is hard,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. “We were rolling. He wanted to come and fit in. He didn’t want to detract. We were getting to know him. We didn’t realize how multifaceted he is offensively, and so he’s trying to fit in, space to the corner, [would get] a few plays run for him, but us realizing how much more he has to elevate this group on both sides of the ball.”

Atkinson wants to make sure they can put Hunter in a position to succeed and be his best self this upcoming season. That process started with getting to know Hunter better as a player and a person during the offseason.

“What I really tried to do [this summer] is build a relationship,” Atkinson said. “I didn’t get to do that last year. You have regrets when you look back on the season [and say], ‘I could’ve done a better job there.’ This summer, I thought that was really important.

“Through those conversations, through building that relationship, we talked about what that’s going to look like tactically. Where are we going to get you the ball? Where do you like the ball? ‘Do you like it here?’ ‘I like this action.’”

Both Atkinson and Altman stated that they believe in the team’s philosophy from last season. There’s no reason to fix what isn’t broken. At the same time, there’s areas on both ends of the floor that the team can improve on. Some of those changes are motivated by better utilizing Hunter.

“We’re definetely making tweaks [to the offense],” Atkinson acknowledged. “Some of that is geared towards him, to put him in a better position. … Statistically, he had an incredible year, but I know there’s more in there.”

Hunter’s skill set made him the fourth overall pick in 2019. Even though he’s had a successful career thus far, it has always seemed like he has the potential to be even better than he is. Things didn’t appear to ever truly click for him during his five and a half seasons in Atlanta.

It’d be easy to say that this is just the type of player Hunter is. He’s going into his age-28 season. Players don’t typically take massive leaps at this point in their careers. But at the same time, there’s much more that goes into individual success besides just raw talent.

It can be easy to forget the human element when evaluating players. Each guy is more than just a collection of skills and traits. There’s a person who needs to be put in the right position to be their best self.

Atkinson seems to get this part better than most. Being an NBA coach is more about building relationships than it is about X’s and O’s. That latter is important, but the best strategies don’t accomplish much if you can’t connect with your players on a human level as well. That is what this summer has been about for Atkinson.

The Cavs are optimistic that the results follow for Hunter.

“That’s part of our job,” Atkinson said. “How do you create that relationship depending on the player’s personality? He’s someone you really got to build his trust. that’s probably the most important thing I’ve seen from him and that takes time.

“I’m not saying we’re there yet. I think this is an ongoing process, but I feel really good. We’ve made a big job.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...-offseason-kenny-atkinson-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs are confident in depth despite Max Strus’s injury

Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations, and head coach Kenny Atkinson held their preseason media availability at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Tuesday morning. They touched on numerous things that happened over the summer, which unfortunately included their starting small forward from last season, Max Strus, breaking his foot.

The team announced last month that Strus underwent successful surgery for a broken foot that would keep him out three to four months. Neither Altman nor Atkinson had much of an update for a timetable for a return, nor did they shed much light on what led to it.

“Max, unfortunately, [hurt his foot in an] offseason workout,” Altman said. “Broke his foot, had to have surgery on it. I’m not going to go too much more into the weeds on that. He’s going to miss a few months. … He’ll still come down to Sarasota with us (for training camp).[We will] probably have a better update when we spend some time with him there.”

We’ll stay tuned to see if we get more of an update next week on Strus’s injury once the team is in the camp.

Altman didn’t downplay the injury, but felt that the team is in a good position to handle the loss.

“We missed him to start last year as well,” Altman said. “We have enough talent, we have enough depth on this roster to assume that loss. I think we’ll lose something from the leadership piece, but he’ll still be around. I know he’s probably more hurt than anybody that he can’t compete from day one with us.”

It seems that De’Andre Hunter is going to start in Strus’s place to open the season, but Atkinson wasn’t quite ready to commit to that. At least not yet. He did, however, state that Hunter has been arguably the “best player in the offseason” and that Jaylon Tyson is someone he expects to step up this season.

The Cavs certainly have options to fill the starting small forward spot with Strus missing the first part of the season. We should be getting a better idea of who will start and what the rotations will be after training camp.

The Cavaliers open up training camp at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida, on September 30.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...y-atkinson-deandre-hunter-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

No, Killian Hayes probably won’t play meaningful minutes for the Cavs?

When you are an expensive team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, there are some swings that have to be taken when filling out your roster. There is little luxury to be found on the bottom of the pile that is the NBA’s free agent pool in September.

That’s why the Cavs signed Killian Hayes to a training camp deal, the meme-worthy point guard taken 7th-overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the woeful (at the time) Detroit Pistons. Hayes never lived up to the hype (Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer had him as the best prospect in the draft), nor did he get even close to sniffing it. An inability to shoot, no feel for getting to the rim, and deceptively average defense doomed Hayes from the get-go. He was unceremoniously waived by Detroit in the same season they lost 28 games, unable to get playing time.

There were some eyebrow raises when the news dropped of the Cavs signing Hayes, but any sweat at the thought of him playing meaningful minutes can be calmly wiped away.

Hayes spent time last season with the Brooklyn Nets, mostly with their G League team. Expect the same with the Cavs, who have undoubtedly signed the Frenchman to participate in training camp and eventually play for the Cleveland Charge. Hayes has too much service time and cannot be signed to a two-way contract anyway. He will not be stealing minutes from Lonzo Ball or Craig Porter Jr., rest assured.

However, the Cavs have a potentially fairly fragile point guard situation. Darius Garland will likely not be ready for the start of the regular season. Ball has a long, long list of injuries throughout his career. Porter played heavier minutes two years ago (when Garland and Donovan Mitchell were both dealing with injuries), but he is still a limited player. Sam Merrill can handle the ball, but the Cavs need him to fill some roles while Max Strus heals from his broken foot. Of course, Mitchell can also play the point, but the Cavs may not want to saddle their star with too much offensive responsibility to keep him fresh throughout the season.

There are many, many bad things that would have to happen before fans should start to worry about Hayes playing at Rocket Arena. And even then, it is just as likely that they scour the free agent market for a better player should worst come to worst. Hayes may have some level of unrealized potential, but the Cavs are not acting as if they are grooming him to play critical minutes. He is a G League player that will get plenty of run for the Charge.

In terms of his G League numbers last year, Hayes had some success. In 33 games with the Long Island Nets, Hayes averaged 17.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game on pretty good shooting efficiency. Those are solid stats for a guy who never even remotely approached those numbers in the NBA, but he can certainly dominate in the G League. The Charge had a disappointing season last year, but have a new head coach in Eli Kell-Abrams and a desire to retool the team. Hayes should infuse the G League roster with some desperately needed playmaking and ball handling, two things they did not have last year.

The Cavs have to take some swings on players in their lower levels of the organization. They have limited future draft assets, a top-heavy and expensive roster, and a strong pedigree of molding players through the G League. They tried a similar experiment with Emoni Bates, another talented but deeply flawed player. It ended up not working out, but the Cavs gave it a go. They created an environment for Bates to work on his weaknesses without the pressures of trying to live up to his previously sky-high expectations. Hayes is in the same position.

Perhaps Hayes turns his career around and can be an NBA-caliber, rotation-ready, point guard. It more than likely will not happen in Cleveland, if at all. But that is the nature of being an expensive, deep team like the Cavs – you have to fill out the organization with some swings. Just be ready for plenty of misses.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/clevel...etroit-pistons-g-league-cleveland-charge-cavs

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly sign a veteran center

The Cleveland Cavaliers have always struggled to put reliable role players behind their dominant front-court duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Names like Robin Lopez, Damian Jones, and the second run of crypto king Tristan Thompson were the previous guys who occupied that role. The front office now has an upgraded solution to this issue.

It was announced on Tuesday afternoon via Shams Charania that the Cavaliers and Thomas Bryant have agreed on a one-year deal. It might sound hyperbolic, but this is a massive get for Cleveland.

Free agent center Thomas Bryant has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Bryant played a key reserve role on the Indiana Pacers' second half run to the Finals and now enters his ninth NBA season. pic.twitter.com/taLIrVO4HB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 23, 2025

Bryant provides the Cavaliers with depth that they have not had in nearly a decade for their frontcourt. With the Indiana Pacers, since being acquired on December 15th, Bryant averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes over his 56 regular season games.

Now, the Cavaliers have a frontcourt rotation of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance Jr and now Thomas Bryant. That is a massive leap for this Cavaliers team, that is currently strapped by the NBA’s CBA restrictions.

Koby Altman deserves a lot of praise for finding ways to add non-fodder level players at this point of the off-season. Bryant was in discussion for the New York Knicks and contemplating signing overseas as well. Some of the best moves for building team depth are the subtle ones, the not so headline grabbing types of transactions. This move fits under that description.

If Bryant hits for the Cavaliers, he is someone that the coaching staff doesn’t have to cross their fingers and hope the team doesn’t get crushed when he’s on the court. Too many times, with reserve bigs for Cleveland, it has been a best-case scenario of “well, that wasn’t so bad!” Bryant should be able to solve that issue.

With the move, Cleveland will have one roster slot open. Based on how the team has operated the past several seasons, they would be expected to keep that spot vacant until after the trade deadline. They still have one unfilled two-way slot.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-news/38889/cleveland-cavaliers-nba-free-agency-thomas-bryant-cavs

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Darius Garland’s injury could be a ‘blessing in disguise’ after a great offseason

The Cleveland Cavaliers held a preseason press conference today for Kenny Atkinson and Koby Altman. A key moment from their availability was an update on Darius Garland’s injury.

The All-Star point guard was limited during last season’s playoffs and is set to miss the start of the 2025-26 season with his injury. As painful as that is, Altman and Atkinson don’t believe this has slowed him down at all. In fact, it might lead to a better version of Garland.

“So I think it’s gonna sound counterintuitive, because he was hurt, but he had a really good off-season,” said Altman. “Only because he focused on the things that we’ve been talking about for a long time with him, which is weight room, strength, and because he couldn’t touch a basketball for a month, he had to just lift and so he’s stronger.”

Working back from a toe injury has changed Garland’s offseason. He wasn’t able to play as much basketball, instead focusing more on strength training. This could pay dividends as Garland enters into the next phase of his career.

“I think this injury might be a blessing in disguise,” said Atkinson. “I keep talking about the Steph [Curry] evolution. And how Steph just got stronger and stronger, and kept improving his body… [Darius] has really paid attention to the strength part, so that’s his next step.”

Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists on a career-best efficiency last season. He made strides as a leader and was closing games with poise during the regular season. His importance as Cleveland’s floor general can’t be overstated.

“He’s continued to grow and mature,” said Altman. “He’s ready, I think he’s ready to have real playoff success. And he was on his way to doing that before the toe.”

As for when Garland will make his debut, Altman was unable to share a definitive timeline.

“He’s back on the court now. He’s doing basketball activities now, the toe looks good, he feels good, and we’re certainly not gonna put a timetable on it,” said Altman. “But he’s gonna start to participate the limited team activities in training camp, very limited.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...-blessing-in-disguise-after-a-great-offseason

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs release training camp roster

The Cleveland Cavaliers will open up training camp at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Florida, on Tuesday, September 30. The team will be there until traveling back to Cleveland before opening up their preseason schedule against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, October 7.

The players going down to the Sunshine State for training camp and their current roster contract situation are listed below.

Players on a standard NBA contract:

• Jarrett Allen
• Lonzo Ball
• Thomas Bryant
• Darius Garland
• De’Andre Hunter
• Sam Merrill
• Donovan Mitchell
• Evan Mobley
• Larry Nance Jr.
• Craig Porter Jr.
• Tyrese Proctor
• Max Strus
• Jaylon Tyson
• Dean Wade

Players on two-way deals:

• Nae’Qwan Tomlin
• Luke Travers

Training camp invites:

• Tristan Enaruna
• Killian Hayes
• Chaney Johnson
• Miller Kopp
• Norchad Omier

There is one surprise on this list. Chris Fedor reported earlier this week that Jaxson Robinson would be on the training camp roster. Robinson has since been waived to make room for Miller Kopp.

Killian Hayes is the most notable name on the list of invites, but he’s expected to spend the season with the Cleveland Charge and isn’t eligible for a two-way contract with the Cavs because of his service time in the league.

The Cavaliers currently have one open roster spot and one available two-way slot. They have entered the last several seasons with just 14 of the 15 roster spots filled. They’ve then added a final player to the roster sometime after the trade deadline. There’s no reason to believe that pattern will change this season.

Cleveland would be expected to fill their remaining two-way slot. This could come from one of the players that they invite to camp (except for Hayes), or they could offer that spot to another eligible player who doesn’t make the opening night roster on another team.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...-training-camp-roster-nba-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

‘We belong at the top’ Max Strus says Cavs still lead the East

Max Strus didn’t back down from setting high expectations for the Cleveland Cavaliers during his Media Day availability. He believes the Cavs have no reason not to be considered as the top dogs of the East.

“I don’t see why we’re not still at the top,” said Strus. “We all believe that we belong there.”

The Cavs won 64 games last season, leading the Eastern Conference and only falling short to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won 67. Despite their monumental success in the regular season — Cleveland lasted only five games against Indiana in the second round.

There are reasons for their playoff collapse. Multiple Cavaliers mentioned conditioning as a lesson from their loss to Indiana. Others talked about health, experience and winning on the margins. Whatever it might be — everyone agreed that winning in the regular season isn’t enough. It’s time for the next step.

When asked whether or not next season could be considered a success if the Cavs don’t reach the finals, Strus kept it simple.

“I don’t think so,” said Strus. “I think this team is capable of that [winning the conference] and without putting a tremendous amount of pressure on us, I don’t see why we can’t be there.”

Other players echoed the same sentiment. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley said winning the title is their goal. Lonzo Ball wants to contribute to a championship. Thomas Bryant is here because he thinks this team can win. Everyone understands where the bar is being set.

“We’re all ready to back into the season,” said Strus. ”When the lights get bright again in the playoffs, we’ll be ready this year.“

Strus will miss the start of the season with a foot injury. There is no clear timetable for his return.

“I’m five weeks out of surgery,” said Strus. “I’m not gonna put a timetable on my return… but I’m in a good spot right now, everything seems to be healing.“

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...e-top-max-strus-says-cavs-still-lead-the-east

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs injury update: Darius Garland confirmed he’s been cleared for on-court work

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland didn’t seem happy to answer questions about his foot injury during his seven-minute press conference at Media Day on Monday afternoon. But that didn’t stop reporters from asking him anyway.

“Rehab’s been going really well,” Garland said. “[I’m] back on the court, moving around. I’m ramping up for the season, so everything’s been good. … Doctor’s saying everything’s been looking great. So I’m happy where I’m at right now.”

Having better conditioning was a main talking point for several Cavs players. This is clearly one of their main takeaways from their second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers, where they were outhustled. Even though Garland was limited throughout the summer, he’s still been able to work on his conditioning.

“Working on conditioning and cardio right now,” Garland said. “So happy to be back on the court.”

Garland is indeed back on the court. In his words, he’s participating fully in basketball and contract drills. However, according to Koby Altman, Garland will be in “limited team activities” during training camp in Florida.

Garland wasn’t willing to admit to missing time in the regular season. When asked about it, he said that he doesn’t know yet, but he does have a date in mind that he’s targeting for his return.

The initial timetable for a return from the toe surgery he underwent at the beginning of June was for four to five months. That would put him in line to return sometime in October. However, the Cavs will likely be cautious with rushing him back. They know that their season won’t be judged by how they perform in the fall. Having all of their stars healthy and near 100% in the postseason is all that will matter.

We’ll see when Garland can return to game action. At the very least, it’s encouraging to see him walking around without a limp and confirming that he’s once again ready for on-court work.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...te-darius-garland-toe-nba-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Evan Mobley has big plans for this season, he just isn’t telling us what they are

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley set two goals for himself at media day last year: Make an All-Star team and win Defensive Player of the Year. He checked both of those boxes off en route to his best season as a professional.

So, what does he want to accomplish individually this year?

“My individual goal is to definitely be an All-Star again, hopefully keep the Defensive Player of the Year as well,” Mobley said. “And then from there… I’m going to keep that a secret for now.”

We don’t know what exactly that unspoken goal for this upcoming season is, but I’d guess getting into the MVP conversation would be it. And honestly, that isn’t too unrealistic a target. Mobley is that good.

It’s easy to see Mobley’s quiet demeanor and think that he lacks confidence. In truth, he’s mostly just honest. Mobley doesn’t over exaggerate his own talent or overhype his abilities. When he says things, he means them. That’s why we should take him at his word when he said last All-Star break that he could be the best player in the league in five years.

Whether or not that happens remains to be seen. Mobley does have areas of his game he needs to improve if he’s going to take the next leap. Ballhandling is chief among them. He’s more than serviceable for his size, but hasn’t proven to have a tight enough handle to be the self-creating scorer he will need to be if he’s going to become a superstar.

Fortunately for Mobley, he seems to know this. That’s what his focus has been throughout the offseason.

“It’s grown a lot,” Mobley said about his ballhandling. “Did a lot of those drills in the off-season. This year, you’re definitely going to see me with the ball in my hands a lot more. And I think with the offense and how it’s going to change a little bit, you’re going to see me doing that.”

We saw Mobley get iced out of games last season, particularly in the second half of Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. The guards need to do a better job of finding Mobley, but at the same time, he needs to be more assertive in making sure that doesn’t happen. This led him to correctly say that he can’t go “nonexistent” at times during his exit interviews last spring.

That part is just as important as becoming more skilled.

“That’s definitely going to be on me,” Mobley said when asked about becoming more assertive. “I gotta take that upon myself and not let that happen and always just stay engaged and stay aggressive.”

Mobley proved that he could be among the elite players in the league because of his skill on both ends of the court. This was rewarded by being named to the All-NBA Second Team last season. That is a major accomplishment and not guaranteed for someone even as skilled as Mobley.

That level of individual success this early in a career can lead players down different paths. Some become content maintaining their status as a premier player. Others become hungrier for more success after getting their first real taste of it.

Time will tell which one Mobley takes.

Media day quotes aren’t indicative of how a season will go. At the same time, we know that Mobley is one of the few players who can reach his lofty goals if he puts his mind to it. And by all accounts, it seems like he’s doing everything in his power to make sure he reaches them.

“You can just feel it,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said about Mobley’s approach last week. “You just sense that he’s ready to make another jump. The seriousness in which he approached his offseason from a body perspective. And then from a basketball perspective, he’s different. I don’t know how to exactly define that, but I feel like there’s confidence growing here that maybe we haven’t seen before.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...-mobley-nba-mvp-media-day-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs comment on their biggest weakness in last year’s playoffs

NBA Media Day is a chance for every team to set its narrative before the start of a new season. But it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the past. Everyone knew the Cleveland Cavaliers would have to answer questions regarding their recent playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. That might be why everyone had a similar answer.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Monday was how often the Cavaliers talked about conditioning. Multiple players mentioned it when asked about their offseason and what they learned from their loss in the postseason.

“A big focus so far has been our conditioning level,” said Sam Merrill. “Winning in the playoffs is so about winning on the margins. Sometimes you just have to get a rebound, or get the ball in.”

Last year’s Pacers were a shining example of how far the intangibles can take you. Simply playing harder than everyone else was a core reason they made it to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Of course, many factors contributed to Indiana’s success — but being faster and more conditioned than everyone else was a non-negotiable.

“Building our bodies so that we’re able to last through the whole season,” said Evan Mobley. “Because the season is so long, and grueling, and also knowing when to turn it up and turn it down. I think this team has done their research, and it’s a great team, and they built a program for us.”

The importance of staying healthy through the season is something they don’t need to be reminded of. They’ve been bitten by untimely injury bugs in consecutive seasons. That’s one reason they have focused so much on building their bodies this summer.

“Working on conditioning and cardio,” said Darius Garland. “It’s important for all of us to get that work in.”

The Cavs stressed the value of working together this offseason. They have committed themselves to building towards a common goal.

“The motivation, you see it in every player, every workout,” said Dean Wade. “Guys are hungry… you get on the court and it’s all business.”

Plenty of teams wait until training camp to officially begin working out together. But this Cavs squad has been in the gym ahead of schedule.

“Being here a few weeks before training camp has been really huge,” said De’Andre Hunter on working with Kenny Atkinson this summer. “Building that relationship with Kenny, just picking each other’s brains on what I can do and where I can fit in… it’s been a collaborative thing.”

Conditioning is about more than just running laps. The Cavs are a team that has repeatedly hit a wall in the playoffs. Clearing that mental hurdle is just as important as being physically in shape.

“I think there’s a mental push,” said Donovan Mitchell. “We’ve run into the same wall three times in a row, and mentally you could stop and quit… and so [the question is] are we ready to continue pushing forward? I believe we are.”

Staying motivated could be especially difficult for a team that won 64 games in the regular season last year — only for it to mean nothing in the playoffs. The Cavs understand that there isn’t anything left to gain from the regular season. At this point, nothing matters but the postseason.

“The biggest thing is just understanding that we have to keep going,” said Mitchell. “That’s really all I got, we just gotta keep going and see what the season brings.”

Cleveland won’t have an opportunity to redeem itself until the playoffs begin. Until then, all they can do is put their shortcomings in the past and strive to be better.

“The NBA, it’s a long season,” said Jarrett Allen. “If you stop and sulk for too long, you’re going to get left behind.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-news/39003/cavs-media-day-nba-playoffs-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Lonzo Ball sees himself contributing to a championship in Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Lonzo Ball because they feel like he can help raise their ceiling in the playoffs.

It turns out the feeling is mutual.

“I was excited,” said Ball on the trade. “I’m happy to be in Cleveland, happy to be on this team, and to do what I can to compete for a championship.“

Ball joins a Cavalier squad that won 64 games the year before. This is a roster that has experienced monumental success in the regular season — but is still looking for its shining moment in the playoffs. Ball is eager to help them earn that.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the missing piece,” said Ball during media day. “But I just think that I’m here to help win a championship, to do my part, and be a good teammate.”

This iteration of the Cavaliers hasn’t had a player like Ball on their bench. He isn’t a microwave scorer like Ty Jerome or Caris LeVert. He doesn’t have the same defensive limitations as Ricky Rubio did. Ball is a totally different archetype that can check all of the most important boxes for playoff success.

“My game is pretty simple,” said Ball. “Play defense, hit open shots and don’t turn the ball over. Those are my three main points, and I just go from there.”

Every championship team needs a role player who can hit on those three skills. An efficient, defensive-oriented ball-handler is a recipe for success in the modern NBA. Recent championship players like Alex Caruso and Jrue Holiday are the blueprint to what Cleveland is looking to replicate with Ball.

Still, it’s no secret that trading for Ball comes with a risk.

Ball has suffered several season-ending injuries across his career, including a two-year knee injury leading up to last season. He will have to prove that he can stay healthy long-term if any of this is going to work out.

“It’s an ongoing conversation with me and the staff,” said Ball. “It depends on how I’m feeling, but I’m looking forward to playing as many games as possible.”

Ball has the benefit of spending an entire offseason without any new injuries. This is the type of summer he hasn’t enjoyed in multiple years. This has allowed Ball to approach his workouts with a greater purpose.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to go through workouts normally,” said Ball. “I’ve been doing everything with the team; I haven’t had any setbacks.”

There is immense pressure on Ball and the Cavaliers to win this season. A full year of health, capped off with a championship, would cement this team forever. The opposite, another postseason blunder, could stain them.

But Ball isn’t overly worried about how this season will impact his overall legacy. His focus is on putting his best foot forward — and letting the rest sort itself out.

“Legacy really just depends on when you look back at your life in the mirror, and if you’re happy with yourself, then that’s all that matters.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...f-contributing-to-a-championship-in-cleveland

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Season Preview: Evan Mobley isn’t done yet

Evan Mobley hit numerous milestones last year during his breakout season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. First-time All-Star. Second-Team All-NBA. Defensive Player of the Year. It was a massive year of growth for Mobley.

But no one expects him to stop there.

“Every year, I feel like I’ve been making bigger leaps. This year I’m taking another big leap,” said Mobley on Cavs Media Day. “I know what I’m capable of and know how good I could be. I’m gonna strive for that every day.”

Mobley enters his fifth NBA season with high expectations. The Cavaliers are knocking on the door to a championship, and Mobley might be the only one who can fully unlock it. His development is arguably the most important factor in determining Cleveland’s ceiling. Yet, Mobley’s ceiling itself is still undefined.

Can Mobley be an MVP-caliber player? He’s already unofficially a top-15 talent, according to last year’s All-NBA teams. How much more would Mobley need to do in order to break into the league’s upper echelon? And how would that impact the Cavaliers’ title aspirations?

“The biggest goal is a championship,” said Mobley. “My individual goals are definitely All-Star again, hopefully keep the Defensive Player of the Year as well, and then from there… I’m gonna keep that a secret for now.”

Mobley’s ultimate ceiling hinges on his ability to create opportunities for himself. There shouldn’t be scenarios where he feels frozen out of the offense. Not if he’s going to be an MVP-caliber player. You don’t hear concerns of Giannis Antetokounmpo not getting enough touches, for example.

The Cavs certainly believe Mobley has more to offer. Head Coach Kenny Atkinson has emphasized the need for Mobley to get the ball more often. This means embracing Mobley as a self-creator and enabling him to attack off the dribble.

“You can just sense that he is ready to make another jump,” said Atkinson. “There’s a confidence brewing here that maybe we haven’t seen before.”

Mobley has all of the tools to be an offensive engine. He’s a dominant finisher who converted 78% of his attempts in the restricted area last season. He also expanded his range to the three-point line, nailing 37% of his 3.2 attempts per game. Combine this with his potential as a playmaker (3.2 assists per game), and Mobley can become the full package.

“Definitely gonna see me with the ball in my hands a lot more,” said Mobley. “Bringing the ball up the floor… also like, isolation scoring, 1-on-1, and stuff like that.”

Another leap from Mobley would put him firmly in the league’s highest tier. A world-class defender who has no major weaknesses on offense. That’s the type of thing that wins championships, if you can believe it.

“I don’t want to put too much out there, too much expectation on him, but he has just been insanely good,” said Sam Merrill on Media Day. “There is just no hesitation shooting the basketball… He is clearly taking a step as a player, but… also as like, almost an alpha.”

Of course, all of this has to be shown in the regular season — and then cemented in the playoffs. There is no need to get ahead of ourselves. But, you’d be lying if you say you aren’t excited.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-analysis/39034/cavs-season-preview-evan-mobley-isnt-done-yet

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

‘I gotta be the head of the snake’ Darius Garland says he’s the Cavs leader

Darius Garland spoke with confidence at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2025 Media Day.

“I’m the leader of this group,” said Garland. “Gotta be the head of the snake.”

Garland plays a key role as Cleveland’s harmonizer on offense. He’s the point guard — therefore, he bears the most responsibility for managing all the finer aspects of the game. This is what he means by being the ‘head of the sanke.’

“As a point guard, you have to come in with that mentality as a leader,” said Garland. ”I know the ropes now, it’s cool being an older guy in the locker room.“

Cleveland boasted the league’s most efficient offense in the regular season last year. That cratered in the playoffs, with the team struggling to score without Garland — who missed multiple games with a toe injury and was far from being himself even after returning to the floor.

Not having Garland to organize things was one of many reasons the Cavs fell to Indiana. The Cavs’ offense became dysfunctional. Ball distribution came to a halt. That’s a direct product of not having their best game manager on the floor to keep everything in place.

“My number one job right now is to stay healthy,” said Garland. “Number two is keeping everyone on the same cylinder, keep everyone engaged, keep everyone locked in together.”

The Cavaliers are hoping they can pad their depth by adding another floor general in Lonzo Ball. Now the team will have another conductor available if Garland himself isn’t there to lead the ship.

“It’s been great, having Lonzo [as] another guard who can handle the ball,” said Garland. “He has a really good IQ… that’s super cool to have another high-IQ guy out there.”

Garland did not provide an update on when he’ll make his season debut. He underwent successful surgery earlier this summer to repair a toe injury.

“I don’t know yet,” Garland said on his injury timetable. “We’ll see.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-n...snake-darius-garland-says-hes-the-cavs-leader

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs Season Preview: Can Donovan Mitchell lead Cleveland to a championship?

The best players elevate their game in the playoffs. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has done that throughout his career according to his counting stats. Mitchell’s average playoff points, rebounds, and steals are all up from his regular-season totals. On top of that, his assists are nearly the same, and his incredible efficiency dips just slightly in the postseason.

In short, Mitchell has been an incredible individual playoff performer. The only issue is that his team hasn’t advanced past the second round in eight playoff runs.

Is this an indication that Mitchell can’t be the best offensive player on a championship contender? Or have Mitchell’s teams just not been good enough to compete for a title?

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle.

Mitchell’s physicality and ability to get to the rim make him the effective player that he is. This is different from other elite guards, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, or Steph Curry, who utilize some level of craft or outside shotmaking to be the game-changing players they are. We’ve repeatedly seen that translate to team postseason success while Mitchell’s game hasn’t.

The issue isn’t so much that Mitchell can’t get to his spots the same way he can in the regular season. It’s that it’s more taxing in a playoff environment that allows for more physicality, which has continually led to his body letting him down as the postseason progresses.

For instance, in 2024 Mitchell carried the Cavs to victory in Game 7 of their first-round matchup against the Orlando Magic and then followed it up with an incredible Game 2 against the eventual champion Boston Celtics to steal home-court advantage. In a vacuum, there was nothing from either outing that wasn’t repeatable in a controlled setting. And, both performances were good enough to carry his team to victory. The only issue is that the playoffs aren’t played in a vacuum. Mitchell broke down after Game 3, and so did the Cavs’ chance to do anything that postseason.

The cycle repeated last year. Mitchell was phenomenal against the Indiana Pacers until he wasn’t. He controlled Game 2 by tallying 48 points on 14-23 shooting inside the arc. The Pacers simply had no answer for him inside the paint other than knocking him on his back when he drove through the lane.

Indiana didn’t have to wait long to reap the benefits of this strategy. Mitchell’s lateral movement was completely gone in the closing minutes of Game 2 as the Cavs’ lead evaporated. Even though he had good moments for the remainder of the series, the physicality he played with for most of Game 2 never returned as he persevered through a calf strain for the remainder of the series.

There is also a conversation to be had about whether Mitchell dominating the ball as much as he does in big games is best for the team. There were instances in the second half of Game 5 against the Pacers where you would’ve preferred Mitchell to get the ball to Evan Mobley more. There’s a balance that Mitchell needs to find in some of these bigger moments if the Cavs are to get over the hump.

Mitchell talked about playing the “most mature basketball” of his career last season. He pointed to picking it up on the defensive end and on the offensive glass in the playoffs as examples of that. While it’s true that he has made progress in these areas and others, there’s still more work to be done.

Getting over the hump in the playoffs will come down to several things. Mitchell has the skills to take over playoff games, but if the Cavs require him to do that every outing, then there’s only so far that’ll get you given his size and playing style.

He needs Mobey and Darius Garland to take some of the on-ball creation and scoring pressure off him. Both will need to step up in a way they haven’t in the playoffs, and Mitchell will need to give them more of an opportunity to do so.

Mitchell also has to do a better job of picking and choosing his battles. Koby Altman, Cavs’ president of basketball operations, spoke at media day about how they want to make sure Mitchell is peaking in June when the team hopes to be competing for a championship. They have a plan in place to do that. Let’s see if that stays in place when they inevitably face adversity next playoffs.

Mitchell has accomplished nearly all that he can in the regular season. The same can’t be said about the postseason. Whether or not he breaks through will determine how his on-court career will be remembered years from now. This year is a golden opportunity to change the narrative that Mitchell’s teams can’t get past the second round and be legitimate title contenders. We’ll have to wait until spring to see if he can do so.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-a...view-donovan-mitchell-nba-cleveland-cavaliers

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Sam Merrill finally has the stability he’s been searching for with Cavs: ‘My focus hasn’t changed’

Sam Merrill was on the golf course when he found out from his agent that the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a four-year, $38 million deal this summer. As expected, the news derailed his round, but that’s something he’s okay with. Merrill has worked his whole career for a guaranteed deal like this.

“It’s a big blessing,” Merrill said, “to be able to finally be in a spot where I know I’m going to be. It’s been a lot of ups and downs throughout my career so far.”

There certainly have been.

Merrill’s path to the Cavs took many turns. He was the 60th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, but received little playing time and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies a year later. A season-ending ankle injury in December cut his sophomore campaign short in Memphis and resulted in him being waived shortly thereafter. Merrill then earned a training camp invite from the Sacramento Kings the following summer, but Matthew Dellavedova beat him out for the final roster spot.

At that point, Merrill strongly considered pursuing a career overseas. However, he was convinced by his agent to stay stateside and give the G League a shot since that’s the easiest path to the NBA. The Cleveland Charge took him with the first overall pick in the 2022 G League Draft.

Even though Merrill was playing a few blocks away at the Wolstein Center, it took a while for the Cavs or any NBA team to take notice of what he was showing with the Charge.

“I remember towards the end of that G League season, we played a team twice, it was one of those baseball series,” Merrill said. “My agent told me before that [an NBA team was] coming to specifically watch me, that the front office was coming to watch me, and felt like there was a lot of interest there. And I played pretty well both games. And the next day, they signed some veteran that wasn’t going to play.

“I remember that night being like, man, is this it? Am I just going to finish the G League season then try to find a Euro League job or something?”

That team’s loss was the Cavs’ gain.

Cleveland signed Merrill to a 10-day contract the following day, then eventually gave him a non-guaranteed three-year deal that ran through the end of the 2024-25 season.

“I joke with them that they took longer than they needed to, but I’m just grateful that they took a chance and invested in me,” Merrill said.

The Cavs had a difficult choice this summer. Merrill and Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome were unrestricted free agents. Cleveland could’ve technically signed both, but because the team was above the second apron, they decided that doing so would’ve been impractical. They ended up choosing the one that they couldn’t replace.

“If you look back at last year, essentially Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome were playing on minimum contracts,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. “In this salary cap era, you can’t keep everybody. … Sam provides a different skill set that is really really hard to find. We will miss the playmaking of Ty, but I do think we’ll be able to assume that from other pieces that we have on the roster. But the movement shooting, the competitiveness, the toughness of Sam, he’s such a culture piece.”

The Cavs enter this season with championship aspirations. They will need every member of their rotation to step up in the postseason if they’re going to carry their regular-season success into the playoffs. That includes Merrill who’s spent this summer rounding out his game.

“I want to continue to diversify my game,” Merrill said. “I’m not changing a whole lot about who I am, but I’ve worked really hard this summer on adding a mid-range game, adding some floaters so that I can try to diversify as much as I can.”

Merrill has been working his whole career to prove that he’s an NBA player. Even though he’s shown that he is over the last two seasons, he’s now being paid like it and has the stability that comes with a multi-year, guaranteed deal.

Some players take their foot off the gas when they achieve a contract they’ve been working for throughout their careers. For others, it gives them the certainty and confidence to be their best selves. I’d bet on Merrill being in that latter grouping.

“Hopefully, I’m going to be here for a few years,” Merrill said, “but at the same time, you want to play well whether you’re on a minimum or a max contract. … So my focus hasn’t changed. I think my resolve is now stronger to be the best player I can be and help this team get to the next level.”

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-f...aliers-nba-free-agency-koby-altman-utah-state

 

[Cleveland Cavaliers]

Cavs basketball is back, here’s how to watch preseason opener vs. Bulls

The results of preseason games don’t matter. The Cleveland Cavaliers lost all four of their exhibition games last year before rattling off 15 straight wins to start the regular season.

At the same time, the long wait is over. Cavaliers basketball will once again be regularly on our TVs from now through the spring (and hopefully early summer). That’s something to get excited about.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:00pm EST

TV: FanDuel Sports Network, Peacock

Tuesday’s game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. If you want to catch the action, along with the rest of this month’s Cavaliers’ action, be sure to check out their promotion below.

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We’ll see how head coach Kenny Atkinson chooses to attack the preseason. This could be our first chance to take a look at Evan Mobley and see how his off-season ball handling work translates to the court. At the same time, we might have to wait for that.

Last year, we saw the starters for portions of three of the four dress rehearsals. However, given the injuries the Cavs are already dealing with in the backcourt, they may opt to play it safer than they did a year ago.

Even though there’s little drama about roster spots — the Cavs have all the roster slots they’re expected to fill occupied — they do have one of their two-way spots open. Whether or not that slot is filled by one of the training camp invites could come down to how they perform in the preseason. We’ll see if Norchad Omier, Miller Kopp, Tristan Enaruna, or Chaney Johnson can do enough to lay claim to that position throughout the preseason. As a reminder, Killian Hayes isn’t eligible for a two-way spot because of his service time in the league.

No matter who plays, it’s good to have Cavaliers basketball back in our lives.

Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-g...ow-to-watch-cleveland-cavaliers-chicago-bulls