Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson doesn't have his starting lineup set for the upcoming season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are getting ready for the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, with the organization having a lot of high expectations this year.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Cavaliers are now looking to duplicate their success from last season. With most of the same players returning, with a few changes, the Cavaliers believe they can contend for a title again.
But the East will likely be much strong this year, with other teams beefing up rosters over the offseason. Cleveland will need to stay focused throughout the season, putting their best foot forward each time out on the court.
However, as the new NBA season starts to get going soon, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that the starting lineup isn't set. Atkinson said that he will work through all the details as training camp starts, seeing who can step up in different roles.
Atkinson still has some time to figure out the starting lineup, and he likely has an idea of who will be out there. But Atkinson probably doesn't want to give too much away, allowing other teams to start fully scheming against Cleveland.
Who Should Cavaliers Starters Be?
Given who is on the roster for the Cavaliers, it's a safe bet to say who four of the five starters will be for the upcoming season. In the backcourt, Cleveland will put stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden again, giving them one of the better scoring duos in the NBA.
In the front court, Cleveland will likely place Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen together again, offering the team a towering big-man duo. This would then leave the wing spot for Cleveland, and Atkinson does have options.
Many will likely point to Peyton Watson, whom the team signing to a massive contract this offseason. But Cleveland may want him to come off the bench, leading the unit as the Sixth Man.
Sam Merrill could be a good option for the final starter, and he did play his best basketball last season when starting. Cleveland could use his shooting ability in the starting group, giving the stars a boost.
This could help deepen the entire roster throughout games, offering the Cavaliers more to work with. But no matter how the starting lineup looks in game one, it's likely to change as the year goes on, with the coaching staff making tweaks due to performance and potential injuries.
