4 Biggest X-Factors for Cleveland Cavaliers Entering 2026-27 Season

The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the new NBA season ready to prove themselves once again, following a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Cleveland was able to get over the hump of getting out of the second round of the playoffs, but they were swept in the conference finals. However, there is a ton of optimism around this group coming into the season, especially around the continuity of the roster.

James Harden will be back for another season, offering the team a co-star to Donovan Mitchell. But the two players can't do it alone, and they will need others to step up.

Here are the top X-factors for the Cavaliers coming into the new 2026-27 NBA season:

1. Evan Mobley

Arguably the biggest X-factor for the Cavaliers this season is going to be center Evan Mobley. The big man has looked the part for Cleveland since being drafted, but this team needs a little more from him.

Defensively, Mobley is among the elite players in the NBA, but his offense needs a little more consistency game-to-game. Mobley has the talent to dominate the league, and this season, he will need to put it all together on the floor.

2. Peyton Watson

After signing a four-year, $88 million contract with Cleveland this offseason, Watson has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to succeed. Watson has been one of the better defensive wings in the NBA throughout his young career, but the Cavaliers may need more from him.

The wing will be expected to take on the toughest defensive assignments, while also being able to shoot the ball effectively from distance. Luckily, Watson is a career 36.1 percent shooter from three-point range, but the Cavaliers will want those numbers to be even higher after paying him.

3. Craig Porter Jr.

Porter is expected to be the team's backup point guard, if he can earn the role in camp. But the emergence of Porter is needed for this team, especially with Harden being on the older side of things.

In his career, Porter has shown that he can be versatile on the floor, something that Cleveland needs more of from him. Porter will also have to show that he can knock down more three-point shots, with his 2025-26 percentage coming in at 35.5 for the year.

4. James Harden

The big knock on Harden over his NBA career has been his struggles come playoff time. While Harden did play decently in the postseason for Cleveland, his numbers did drop in the conference finals compared to other rounds.

It's become almost a yearly occurrence for Harden to see issues in the playoffs, but the Cavaliers do need him to break that trend. Maybe this can be the year for the veteran guard, and if it were to take place, Cleveland could easily win the title.