The Cavaliers claimed the top seed in the Eastern Conference last season by going 64-18. In part due to injuries, Cleveland had a rocky playoff showing, losing its second-round series vs. Indiana in five games.
Due to the Achilles tears of Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), the East is viewed as being up for grabs in 2025/26. But in an anonymous poll of eight NBA scouts and executives, seven selected the Cavaliers to win the conference (one picked them to finish second), according to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Knicks were the only other team to receive a first-place vote and appear on all eight ballots. They finished second in the poll, with the Hawks and Magic rounding out the top four.
Thus far this offseason, the Cavs agreed to a trade with the Bulls that will send Lonzo Ball to Cleveland and Isaac Okoro to Chicago. On his What An Experience podcast (YouTube link), Ball said he’s excited to be joining a contending team.
“Just playing, competing for a ring. I feel like that should be the goal, I feel like that is the goal,” said Ball (hat tip to Benedetto Vitale of Clutch Points). “So, happy to get over there and get started. To meet everybody, get familiar with everything, and take it as far as we can.
“I feel like it’s just a blessing, bro. To be honest, I mean, everybody keeps asking me how I feel about the trade. I’m like, s—, I’m happy to still be playing anywhere, let alone a team that has a real chance to win a ring. My whole life, I feel like I’ve been playing the right brand of basketball, and that’s to win games, so I feel like I’m going to a great situation and I just want to play my role and do what I can to help.”
In other offseason moves, Cleveland lost Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome to the Grizzlies in free agency, declined its team option on Chuma Okeke, agreed to re-sign sharpshooter Sam Merrill and bring back former big man Larry Nance Jr., and signed second-round pick Tyrese Proctor to a standard contract. The Cavs’ other second-rounder, Saliou Niang, will reportedly play for EuroLeague club Virtus Bologna next season.
The Cavaliers seem prepared to bring back their “core four” of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, though Garland’s name has popped up in some trade talks. All four players have All-Star nods on their résumés and are on lucrative long-term contracts.
Cleveland will be operating over the second tax apron next season, limiting the team’s roster-building flexibility.
Zero competition in the east next yr
A g league tm would be able to win the conference
Cavs will lose to the Knicks and or the Magic next year. They’ll have trouble with Atlanta too.
This is like when Harvard students predicted the Miami Dolphins would win the Super Bowl in 2016 based on stats and player values
Sports forecasting is a 60/40 exercise but message board minions interpret everything as 100/0.
I’m putting my entire net worth on the cavs to win the regular season and lose in round 1. Can’t miss trade.
And we all know there will be zero additional injuries during the NBA season.
The Cavs can win all 82 regular season games I still don’t see them getting past Knicks, Hawks, Magic, Sixers(if healthy) or even the Pacers without Tyrese until Garland and Allen are on other teams.
CLE deserves the designation of the East’s best team (with no expectation of 64 wins again). History, though, suggests the NYK will have the most significant year over year improvement in the conference just running it back. So, I expect them to be right there with them, in the 55+ win category. I don’t see a clear 3rd, right now. The NBA playoffs are becoming more of a crap shoot than ever, but still not random. If either CLE (4th year the core is together) or the NYK (2nd year the core is together) aren’t at least in the ECF (or even the Finals), it would be cause to at least relook at their roster. CLE even more than the NYK.
“History, though, suggests the NYK will have the most significant year over year improvement in the conference just running it back.”
This HAS to be the biggest cope of all time. No, this “improving while running the same roster back” does not mean anything at all. You are insane for saying it. Injuries happen. But the Knicks don’t have the talent, straight up. Hart has hit his ceiling. They are a low ceiling team, compared with last year.
Your cope here suggests Josh Hart will be MVP-level next year, what a joke. KAT will never win a ring in this league and Brunson can’t play defense, the Knicks will never win a title in your lifetime no matter how hard you cope LOL
Well, I was wondering what a mindless GSW fanboy might think about my post. Now I know.
/lists well-thought-out points and facts
/gets called “mindless”
Also, half the Warriors fans on here hate me because I am “too critical” of them and Kerr especially, so take this “fanboy” crud and shove it where the sun don’t shine lil bro – I know ball and am critical of everyone, especially my fave team – homerism is mental illness and one I don’t have.
Yeah sure man, Josh Hart is going to keep improving to where he is actually top 10 all-time. Last season totally wasn’t his career year he will never come close to again. Whatever you say, mindless Knicks fan.
Lmao spittin gibberish
People might respect you and your opinions a bit more if you didn’t immediately resort to insults when people don’t agree with you.
FankenStein isn’t worth a response lol. He doesn’t understand making a point or being critical.
This Knicks team was put together last year. On that alone they will be better.
Imagine hating the coach that brought in an offensive system that changed your franchise from a 3 point shooting 1st round exit type to a 4 time champion?
“You are insane for saying it”
Nothing funnier than when Davey J pretends to be a level headed hoops fan.
“Butler for Giannis 1 for 1” vibes
This is bad news for the Cavs, since predictions are usually wrong.
We spend all day on here yelling at these idiots front office execs for making bad choices…this will age like milk, guaranteed.
Magic, if they can stay healthy, can win the East. They have basically a new back court, considering how few games Suggs played last year. Their core is also the one that projects to improve the most year to year because of how young Banchero, Wagner, Suggs but also Black, Da Silva and company are.
A full season of Paolo and Franz might be all it takes to win the weakest East in history (out of a long history of being far weaker than the West).
Now watch all these clowns come in here to reply guy me about how “under .500 teams making the playoffs is actually sign of strength” or some other idiocy.
Am I missing something? What did the Hawks do for people to think they are going to be so good?
Trae young coughing up 15-20 pts on the def end?
They were good last year when they were healthy. Another year of growth for the young players, adding Porzingis and some depth. Health is a big if, but they have the talent and a team that can coverup Trae’s defensive shortcomings. Not a title contender, but definitely dangerous.
It’s not “the Hawks are good” more like “the east is going to be even more terrible than usual next year that this mid team is going to be #1”
The dumbest people involved in the NBA are calling favorites halfway through the offseason? Who cares? Wait til Feb then make these calls…so dumb…
This could be the 76ers year if Joel is mentally there and takes care of body. Cavs did lose jerome and the small back court isn’t an advantage. Mobley has to be dominate.
Joel is going to retire in a few months, his knees are completely destroyed.
Lmao
Lol Mobley needs to have an MVP season for them to win it all. We’ll see.
Giannis is the only true superstar left in the East and he’s probably getting traded to the West…what a joke the East is, just make that the minor leagues for the West.
An anonymous poll of 8 people? Lol is that what we’re doing now? Do they all work for the cavs?
Is the backcourt different? If not, nope.
Cavs tend to choke. Make it out the east? Not if Mitchell is your best player!
Cavs should have won the East last year. Injuries is what happened to them. So they should be favored this year. Cavs are still growing as a team. They should be highly motivated next year.
Don’t really care about odds or ratings.
The Sixers should be considered a top 4 team. They are healthy and added real talent with draft.
I still see Celtics and Pacers as playoff teams. Pacers after losing Turner. Could just shut it down for a pick next year.
Magic have leveled up in talent. So have the Pistons. Now they have to show it on court. Heat still have moves they can make. They also will be better next year.
Cavs, Knicks, Sixers, Magic, Pistons should be top teams .