Cleveland Cavaliers' Biggest Needs Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft
The Cleveland Cavaliers don't own their first-round pick in 2027 or 2029 while still paying for the Donovan Mitchell trade with the Utah Jazz, so they'll need to make this selection count.
The Cavs need more size on the wing. Sam Merrill and Keon Ellis are 6'4". Max Strus is 6'5" and Jaylon Tyson is (a generous) 6'6". The one true wing with size on the roster is Dean Wade, although he's about to hit free agency.
Cleveland could target Texas' Dailyn Swain or Duke's Isaiah Evans near the end of the first round, giving them some additional size off the bench.
2025-26 Record: 52-30
Draft Pick: 29
Perimeter Defense
The Cleveland Cavaliers looked much better in the second half of the season, but they still finished 15th in the league on defense. That had a lot to do with two targetable perimeter defenders starting in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
The weakness was on vivid display in the conference finals, when Jalen Brunson relentlessly attacked Harden during the sweep. It was so bad that one has to wonder whether the Cavs are considering some way out of the Harden business.
Unfortunately, even if he were to decline his player option and walk, Cleveland doesn't really have the flexibility to replace him. So the Cavs are, for lack of a better term, probably stuck with Harden on a smaller deal for a few more years.
If they ink him to a new deal, finding a defense-first 3 who can play alongside both Harden and Mitchell will be critical.
The Evan Mobley Leap
Cleveland has been waiting for this for years. And though Evan Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who'd classify him as a superstar.
He'll need to get there if the Cavaliers have a real shot at beating the Knicks, Boston Celtics or even Indiana Pacers in the playoffs next season.
The likeliest path to that outcome probably involves a lot of time working on his outside shot and other perimeter skills. If he comes back as the same mid-volume, largely short-range offensive threat, it's hard to imagine Cleveland being much better.
Backup Big
There was a temptation to go with a Mobley or Jarrett Allen trade as one of the headings here. Mobley's slow-developing perimeter game makes a breakup between those two justifiable.
They were still significantly better with both bigs on the floor than they were with one or neither. That pairing, at least statistically and in the regular season, isn't the problem.
They might just need a third big who's better equipped to pull defenders from the basket to play alongside one while the other is resting.
