The Cleveland Cavaliers have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley this season.
That starting five is the sixth-best starting lineup in the NBA, according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.
The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the LA Clippers last season. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 2022-23 season. Mitchell is averaging 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cleveland uniform. Mitchell signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension this offseason.
Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers via a sign-and-trade deal with the Denver Nuggets. The contract 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 top two-way wings in the league.
Allen will make $28 million this season. The Texas product averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season while shooting 63.8% from the field and 70.9% from the free-throw line. He recorded 20 double-doubles.
For the Cavaliers last season, Mobley averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 54.6% from the field, 29.7% from beyond the arc and 60.6% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland wasn't interested in trading Mobley to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was traded to the Miami Heat. The Cavaliers also had no interest in trading Mobley for Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mobley is under major pressure to play like a superstar this season. If he doesn't, the Cavaliers will regret not moving him for Brown or Antetokounmpo, two former Finals MVPs.
Cleveland opens this season against LeBron James and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.
If the Cavaliers falter in the 2027 playoffs, don't be surprised if Mitchell, Harden and Allen are not on the team in 2027-28.
Mitchell, Watson, Harden, Mobley and Allen will try to do what LeBron did in 2016. The 2015-16 Cavaliers won the 2016 championship against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
