The Cleveland Cavaliers received a high NBA power ranking after their offseason moves.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are ranked No. 5 in The Athletic's NBA power rankings.
Cleveland only trails the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets and signed Mario Hezonja in free agency. Cleveland will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season.
The Nuggets, Cavaliers and LA Clippers agreed on a trade sending Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles. As part of the multi-team deal, Denver received an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder.
Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers. The deal includes a player option and a trade kicker.
For the Nuggets last season, Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. He's one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
Cleveland defeated the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons to reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster. The Knicks, who won the 2026 championship against the Spurs, swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals.
Cleveland's current schedule for next season features 80 regular-season games, including 17 weekend home dates comprised of two Friday games, nine Saturday games and six Sunday games.
Two additional games will be added at a later date pending the outcome of Emirates NBA Cup matchups to complete the 82-game regular-season slate.
The Cavaliers have 17 national television games next season. They are currently scheduled to match up against each Eastern Conference opponent four times, except Boston (one home, two away), Charlotte (one home, two away), Miami (two home, one away), Orlando (one home, two away), Philadelphia (two home, one away) and Washington (two home, one away).
Cleveland opens next season against LeBron and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.
Can a core of Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Mobley and Allen win a championship? We'll find out soon.
