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Peyton Watson Peyton Watson scores seven points in Cavs debut
Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 3:37 PM
Peyton Watson tallied seven points (2-of-5 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one three-pointer in Thursday's exhibition against the Celtics.
Analysis: Watson made his unofficial Cavaliers debut on Thursday, stepping into the starting lineup. He'll keep that role once the games count, making him a much better fantasy option than he was coming off the bench in Denver. Watson isn't a player you need to select in the first 100 picks of standard-league drafts, but managers should have him on their radar shortly after. |
Jarrett Allen Jarrett Allen records six points, two steals
Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 3:35 PM
Jarrett Allen notched six points (3-of-5 FGs), four rebounds and two steals in Thursday's exhibition against the Celtics.
Analysis: With frontcourt sidekick Evan Mobley's emergence, Allen's fantasy ceiling has been lower in recent years. However, his floor remains relatively safe, especially with point guard James Harden in the fold for the entire season. Allen logged 17 minutes in Thursday's preseason opener, so there isn't much to be taken from his final stat line. |
Evan Mobley Evan Mobley scores eight points vs. Boston
Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 3:34 PM
Yahoo Sports
Evan Mobley recorded eight points (3-of-5 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), one rebound and one assist in Thursday's exhibition against the Celtics.
Analysis: One year after winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors, Mobley's production slipped somewhat in 2025-26. However, he remained a valuable frontcourt option for fantasy managers in any league format. Mobley said before training camp that he's approaching this season with a âchip on his shoulder,â motivated by the conversations that followed the Cavaliers' playoff elimination. If he lives up to those words, fantasy managers who draft Mobley will happily reap the rewards. |
Donovan Mitchell Donovan Mitchell logs 17 MIN in preseason debut
Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 3:32 PM
Donovan Mitchell finished Thursday's exhibition against the Celtics with 11 points (4-of-8 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs) and three assists.
Analysis: Cleveland had four of its five projected starters available for Thursday's exhibition opener, with James Harden held out. Mitchell and the other starters logged 17 minutes against the Celtics, which limited their individual stat lines. Mitchell has first-round potential in 12-team leagues, especially since he will start the season with Harden as his backcourt sidekick. |
Xavier Cooks Khalifa Diop signs four-year deal with Cleveland
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 10:04 AM
Michael Scotto
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports Khalifa Diop has signed a four-year, $9.26 million contract with the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Cleveland selected Diop with the 39th pick in 2022, but he has remained in Spain since then. Now, they'll finally bring him over, though the only the first year of his contract is guaranteed at $1.3 million. This is a low-risk move for the Cavs to add to their depth. |
Cam Whitmore Report: Cavs considering waiving Cam Whitmore
Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 4:12 AM
Chris Fedor
Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor reports the Cavaliers are considering waiving and stretching Cam Whitmore.
Analysis: Whitmore was dealt to Cleveland as part of the Peyton Watson trade, but it doesn't seem like the Cavs are interested in keeping him around. Stretching his $5.4 million contract over a few seasons will give them more flexibility to build out this team with players that are more ready to help win now. It isn't official yet, but it seems likely that Whitmore won't be playing in Cleveland next season. |
James Harden James Harden inks 3-year, $97M deal with Cavs
Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 7:48 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that James Harden has signed a three-year, $97 million extension to remain with the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Harden's new deal includes a trade kicker and a player option, so he'll retain some form of control over his future. The superstar guard was traded from the Clippers midseason, and Cleveland made the Eastern Conference Finals. The team will look to continue its upward trajectory with the pairing of Harden and Donovan Mitchell, and the former is still a reliable fantasy option heading into his 18th season. |
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Cam Whitmore Cam Whitmore to get fresh start in Cleveland
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 2:50 PM
Shams Charania
Cam Whitmore has been traded to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Whitmore was added in to facilitate the Peyton Watson trade, and he'll end up as a young depth piece in Cleveland. However, there are likely too many players in front of him on the depth chart on a team that is trying to compete in the East for him to get much of an opportunity next season. |
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Peyton Watson Shams: Peyton Watson to Cavs in three-team trade
Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 2:33 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports Peyton Watson has been traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal that also sends Max Strus to the Clippers and an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and the Kings' 2032 second-round pick to the Nuggets.
Analysis: The Cavs' interest in Watson has been rumored for a while, and they were finally able to get a deal done, and it wasn't just the trade. With the deal, Watson also agreed to a four-year, $88 million extension to stay in Cleveland for a while. Watson is coming off a breakout season and should fill in as the Cavs' fifth starter alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Watson's role will look different than it did last season, but his versatility on both ends should fit in well in Cleveland as they look to compete in the East. Watson's departure should officially lock in Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon as starters in Denver, though Julian Strawther should step into extra minutes off the bench. |
Tre Mann Report: Tre Mann traded to Cavaliers
Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 11:06 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Hornets traded Tre Mann to the Cavaliers for Dennis Schröder and cash
Analysis: Mann is headed to Cleveland after two-plus seasons in Charlotte, where he occupied a reserve role on most nights. Appearing in 53 games in 2025-26, the former first-round pick averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 12.6 minutes. With Cleveland's backcourt being headlined by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, Mann is unlikely to be in a position where he can offer reliable fantasy value. |
Mario Hezonja Report: Cavaliers, Mario Hezonja agree to deal
Sun, Jul 26, 2026, 7:18 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Cavaliers and Mario Hezonja have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.8 million.
Analysis: The fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hezonja has been out of the NBA since being waived by the Grizzlies in December 2020. However, a return to Europe was just what the doctor ordered for the forward, who most recently played for Spanish power Real Madrid. The expectation is that Hezonja will have a role within the Cavaliers' rotation, but fantasy managers should not make it a priority to draft him until the role becomes clear. |
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Xavier Cooks Ernest Udeh Jr. rejects four shots vs. Miami
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 3:48 PM
Ernest Udeh Jr. finished Monday's win over the Heat with eight points (4-of-6 FGs), seven rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots.
Analysis: Signed to a two-way contract after going undrafted, Udeh provided solid rebounding and rim protection in Monday's victory. Given the Cavaliers' frontcourt depth, carving out a consistent role for himself as a rookie may prove challenging. However, even if Udeh spends most of his rookie season in the G League, he is worth keeping an eye on in deeper dynasty leagues. |
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Xavier Cooks Meleek Thomas gets hot again, scores 35 points
Mon, Jul 13, 2026, 3:44 PM
Meleek Thomas dropped 35 points (14-of-23 FGs, 5-of-9 FTs), three rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block and five three-pointers in Monday's win over the Heat.
Analysis: One day removed from going for 30 points against the Pistons, Thomas was even better on Monday. The 34th overall pick scored 21 points in the first half, shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, and finished with 35. While the summer league competition is not on par with what Thomas will see in the fall/winter, he's clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder after falling out of the first round of the draft. Regardless of what happens with Cleveland's pursuit of LeBron James, Thomas scores too well to be out of Kenny Atkinson's rotation. |
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Xavier Cooks Meleek Thomas drops 30 points vs. Pistons Sunday
Sun, Jul 12, 2026, 12:35 PM
Meleek Thomas had 30 points (10-of-24 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), four rebounds, seven assists, four steals and four three-pointers in the Cavaliers' 103-94 loss to the Pistons on Sunday.
Analysis: Thomas dropped 20 points against the Pacers in his first Summer League action on Friday and followed it up with a 30-point performance against the Pistons. The 34th overall pick in the draft, Thomas continues to display excellent scoring ability. The rookie is ticketed for a bench role with the Cavaliers, the question is how many minutes he's able to earn. |
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Xavier Cooks Meleek Thomas scores 20 in Cavaliers summer debut
Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 12:39 PM
Meleek Thomas shot 7-of-15 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Friday's loss to the Pacers, scoring 20 points with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and two three-pointers.
Analysis: Making his first appearance of the summer, Thomas shot the ball well, showing off the scoring ability that made some consider him a candidate to be selected in the first round. Of course, the former Arkansas guard slipped to the 34th overall pick, but the Cavaliers did not hesitate to sign him to a standard contract. With the Cavaliers losing Dean Wade and Keon Ellis in free agency and limited money to replenish their bench, Thomas may be able to earn rotation minutes as a rookie. |
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Donovan Mitchell Shams: Cavs sign Mitchell to four-year extension
Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 6:25 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports the Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell have agreed to a four-year, $273 million contract extension.
Analysis: This is a monster extension for Mitchell, and he'll have a player option for the 2030-31 season. That would have him making north of $75 million when he's 34 years old. It may not age well, but Cleveland is going to be competitive for at least the next few years, and the commitment to winning could help them lure LeBron James back home. |
Dean Wade Shams: Philadelphia agrees to deal with Dean Wade
Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 4:44 PM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the 76ers have agreed to sign Dean Wade.
Analysis: Wade was a solid contributor for the Cavaliers last season, a perimeter threat who could also defend at the forward spot. He spent all seven of his NBA seasons with Cleveland but will now depart to Philadelphia and likely play a similar role. Wade averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds on 43.9/36.2/71.1 shooting splits last season. |
Thomas Bryant Report: Cavs, Thomas Bryant agree to 1-year deal
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 9:03 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Thomas Bryant intends to sign a one-year deal to remain with the Cavaliers.
Analysis: While the contract amount was not reported, Bryant is likely to be on the veteran's minimum. In his first season with the Cavaliers, he averaged 12.1 minutes per game in 60 appearances. Unless something unexpected were to happen with Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley, Bryant is unlikely to get the playing time needed to affect fantasy basketball. He'll give the Cavaliers additional post depth off the bench. |
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James Harden Harden declines option, negotiating with Cavaliers
Mon, Jun 29, 2026, 5:23 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that James Harden is declining his player option for next season and negotiating a new multiyear deal with the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Harden, who helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season, would have earned a base salary of $42.3 million had he opted into the final season of his contract. However, the decision to opt out and negotiate a new deal with the Cavaliers is likely to benefit both parties. While Harden would get additional security in the form of more years, Cleveland may be able to give him a lower annual salary. With the team hopeful to retain pending free agent Dean Wade while also lowering its payroll, every little bit helps. |
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Xavier Cooks Meleek Thomas heading to Cleveland with 34th pick
Wed, Jun 24, 2026, 2:36 PM
Cavaliers selected Meleek Thomas with pick No. 34 in the NBA Draft.
Analysis: Simply put, Thomas is one of the best shooters in the class, and many believe that his name should be at the top of the list. In his lone season at Arkansas, the 6-foot-3 guard accounted for 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. Thomas shot 41.6 percent from three and 84.3 percent from the foul line, and he's considered to have the quickest release in this class. A solid defender, Thomas can also provide value as a supplementary playmaker. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden will continue to fill out most of the backcourt minutes in Cleveland, and they aren't short on depth at guard. Thomas is talented, but it may take some time for him to establish a consistent role. |
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