NBA Analyst Questions Cavaliers' Plan for Starting Small Forward Spot

In a Bleacher Report story called "1 Major Question for Every Team After 2026 NBA Offseason," NBA analyst Greg Swartz posed this question for the Cleveland Cavaliers: Who starts at small forward?

The Cavaliers lost Dean Wade to the Philadelphia 76ers and franchise legend LeBron James went to Philly as well instead of coming home. 

Cleveland needs a starting forward alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

"Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill could all make a case to be the starting small forward, although all are slightly undersized for the position," Swartz wrote. "A trade for a restricted free agent wing like Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga is still a possibility, although it would cost the Cavs draft picks and force them to move salary to stay under the first apron. Will Cleveland do anything of significance to upgrade the small forward position or rely on internal options?"

The Cavaliers made the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1992 without LeBron on the roster. That high was short-lived, as the New York Knicks swept Cleveland. 

After LeBron went to the 76ers, the Cavaliers signed Mario Hezonja. They are now trying to get Watson from the Denver Nuggets or Kuminga from the Watson is a restricted free agent, while Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent. 

For the Golden State Warriors and Hawks last season, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 72.4% from the free-throw line. He played for Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson in Golden State. 

Meanwhile, 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.

Without LeBron, the Cavaliers' core remains the same: Harden, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen. Can that core get over the hump next season or will they falter in the playoffs again? 

Only time will tell. 

The biggest move the Cavaliers made this summer was signing Mitchell to a massive extension. Mitchell agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with Cleveland.  

The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 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.