The Cleveland Cavaliers will be opening up their new 2026-27 preseason schedule on October 8 against the Boston Celtics.

This will be the first opportunity for fans to see this team in action after a busy offseason that saw Cleveland make multiple additions to the roster. The biggest was bringing in star defensive wing Peyton Watson, adding more depth along the perimeter.

Watson is a true three-and-D wing, giving Cleveland a legitimate role player to go alongside James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. For Cleveland, it will be the role players who ultimately determine how the season will go for this group.

If they can complement the stars well, it could be a special year for the Cavaliers. After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Cavaliers are now looking to do more damage this year, going even further.

But entering the preseason opener, here are three things to watch for:

With Watson signing his four-year, $88 million contract this offseason, there will now be more pressure on his shoulders. Cleveland is going to expect big things from him this season and beyond, and Watson will have to deliver.

The star defender will be tasked with taking on the toughest assignments from opposing teams, giving this Cavaliers roster a massive boost. If Watson can fit into the system alongside the stars, this signing could be one of the biggest from the summer in the NBA.

After trading for Harden last season, he and Mitchell showed strong chemistry on the court. One would expect them to continue that this season, but until they prove it, this will be something to watch.

Both Harden and Mitchell need the ball to be successful, and finding the right balance throughout the year will be crucial. Head coach Kenny Atkinson will have his work cut out for him once again this year.

While it's just the first game of the preseason, one thing to watch is how the Cavaliers come out. Cleveland was swept out of the conference finals, including the team blowing a 22-point lead in Game 1 against the New York Knicks.

The mentality of losing in that fashion can sting, staying with teams into the following season. But the Cavaliers are a veteran group, and the hope is that last season stays in the past, with the team now looking ahead to the opportunities in the 2026-27 season.