The Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. Kenny Atkinson won the Coach of the Year Award and the Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. 

It appeared Cleveland would go on a long playoff run in 2025, but the Indiana Pacers beat the Cavaliers in second round in five games. The Cavaliers haven't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2018. 

ESPN recently polled 20 coaches, scouts and executives about who they think will win the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 and Cleveland received nine votes.

Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton won't play in 2025-26 and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum may not play either. 

The Cavaliers' core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland is talented enough to win the Eastern Conference. It's put up or shut up time for the four All-Stars in 2025-26. 

"And while no one was picked to win the title out of the East, virtually everyone struggled to come up with a team they felt good enough about to come out of the conference," ESPN wrote. "For some, it was because they felt the Knicks and Cavs were evenly matched. Some went with New York because of its toughness and depth, while others went with Cleveland because of its perceived higher top-end talent and better defensive versatility led by reigning DPOY Evan Mobley."

The Cavaliers acquired Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls this offseason. Ball will start alongside Mitchell, De'Andre Hunter, Mobley and Allen until Garland recovers from his foot surgery.

Garland is expected to miss the first 15 games of the 2025-26 season. 

If Cleveland doesn't win the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, it might be time for Koby Altman to think about changing things up in The Land roster wise.