The Cleveland Cavaliers have come in ranked in the top five in a new set of NBA power rankings.
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to go even further in 2026-27.
Cleveland has the talent on the roster to be very successful again, but the big question remains whether they can get over the hump. Led by star guard Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers should again be a top team in the East.
Co-star James Harden returns to the mix, staying in Cleveland on a new extension. This should take some pressure off Mitchell to initiate the offense every time down the floor, while giving the team another go-to option.
Centers Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will also be back, manning the middle for the team. And the big addition to the roster is forward Peyton Watson, giving the defense a massive boost.
All in all, this team looks better, at least on paper, than the one that just reached the conference finals. But can they take down the defending champion New York Knicks or another East team to reach the NBA Finals?
That is the only question that matters this year for Cleveland.
However, entering the new season, the Cavaliers are coming in ranked in the top five of a new NBA power ranking. According to NBA analyst Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, Cleveland is the fourth-best team in the league
The Cavaliers sit behind only the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder in the rankings.
This seems to be a good spot for Cleveland, given that they were one of the four teams left standing last season. And they will need to prove themselves against these other teams before anyone will take them more seriously.
But these aren't the only teams that the Cavaliers will have to deal with, as other teams in the East have gotten better. The Philadelphia 76ers will be stronger now that LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are on the roster.
The Detroit Pistons should be very good again, building off their success from a year ago. Giannis Antetokounmpo now plays on the Miami Heat, making them more of a threat as well.
Overall, Cleveland will have some work to do this year, and it won't be easy, with the East being a tougher conference now. But this group has confidence in itself, and if they can stay healthy, they could at the very least, be in the conversation to win the NBA title.
