The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the ground sprinting last year as they began the season 15-0. Repeating that type of success might be difficult this time, as the Cavs are already down two of their most important
players entering the 2025-26 season.
Darius Garland has no clear timeline for return as he recovers from a toe injury. Meanwhile, Max Strus is expected to be re-evaluated with a foot injury sometime in November or December. This leaves the Cavs without two of last year’s starters.
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Filling the void that Garland and Strus leave behind will require everyone stepping up, to some degree. Let’s focus on three players who need to elevate their games the most during this opening stretch of the season.
Evan Mobley
It should come as no surprise that Mobley is the first name mentioned. He has held the keys to Cleveland’s success from the moment he was drafted. And while last season was a monumental step in the right direction — the Cavs need Mobley to take it even further this year.
We know what Mobley brings defensively. And we know that he’s an elite play-finisher when someone sets the table for him. But Mobley won’t have Garland to feed him in October — nor should Mobley need Garland to get him the ball this season. It’s time for Mobley to go get it on his own.
This is an aspect of Mobley’s game that we already saw in spurts last season. Mobley had his most successful season in terms of creating for himself. The Cavs will need him to continue growing in this area. Mobley should be able to lead this team in scoring on any given night.
The more offensive responsibility that Mobley can bear in the early weeks of the season, the more success this team will have both short and long term.
De’Andre Hunter
Many assumed that Hunter would be in Cleveland’s starting lineup even before Strus got injured. Now? The job is all his. The only thing left is to prove that he deserves it.
Hunter is a bucket-getter. He has no hesitation to shoot the ball, or put it on the deck and probe for his own shot. This makes him a deadly offensive weapon when paired with Cleveland’s starters. But will his presence feel cohesive? Or is Hunter’s game too heliocentric to complement players like Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen?
Strus wasn’t the perfect fit in Cleveland’s starting five because of his height. But he made up for this by being a connecitve playmaker who was unselfish and fought hard defensively. Hunter will have to check those boxes while still standing out as an individual scorer in order to excel.
The Cavs will expect Hunter to score efficiently from all three levels. He’ll also have to serve as the bridge between the backcourt and frontcourt. His size and versatility should make him a natural fit. But the finer aspects of his game will ultimately determine how successful he is.
Jaylon Tyson
The Cavs won’t spend too much time developing their younger prospects on the court this season. All attention is on winning a championship, and it’s unlikely that rookies or sophomores can contribute to that goal. Tyson will have an early opportunity to show whether or not he can be an exception.
Tyson is entering his second year with the Cavs. He’s playing a different role than he did in college — playing less with the ball and more as a catch-and-shoot threat. This transition hasn’t been seamless, but Tyson has enough feel for the game to be optimistic. He’s a smart cutter and can handle the ball when he gets the chance.
The easiest way for Tyson to make himself impactful is on the defensive end. There’s an obvious need for toughness on this roster. Tyson’s physicality in roughing up ball handlers will make him useful even if his offensive development is a work in progress.
Tyson showed that he’s embracing this defensive challenge in the preseason. Carrying it forward and being a high-energy guy who can occasionally score the ball would earn Tyson some serious minutes. He might not have a better chance to establish himself than in the opening weeks. Now is the time for Tyson to flash some 3-and-D capabilities.
