Cleveland Cavaliers come into the new season with sky-high expectations after a disappointing showing in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The Cavaliers don’t have any more room to slip up. The pressure is on their core four to deliver nothing less than a championship.
Bringing in Lonzo Ball was the headline move of the offseason, with hopes that he can steady the second unit and add some much-needed grit on defense.
This will also be an important year for internal development, especially for Evan Mobley. The young forward will be expected to play at an All-NBA level this season, and a lot is riding on his improvement.
Lonzo Ball has been called a game changer for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Lonzo Ball’s time in the NBA has been defined by injuries, but now with the Cavaliers, he’s looking for a fresh start. The role he steps into is a significant one, and it’s his first time joining a team with serious championship aspirations.
This season, Ball is expected to bring stability to the second unit. His playmaking skills and defensive presence are exactly what this group needs to balance out their rotation.
Carmelo Anthony has noted just how important Ball could be. Speaking recently on “7PM in Brooklyn,” Carmelo highlighted what Ball can bring even if he isn’t fully fit.
“He can defend. He’s a 6’6” point guard. His IQ is up there with the best of them in the NBA. He sees everything. He’s a floor general,” Anthony said.
“He can score the basketball if he has to. Now, he has to be a little more consistent with his shot. But if we get 60 or 70 percent of Lonzo Ball, what we know he can do, that Cleveland team is dangerous.”
Evan Mobley can be unstoppable if he adds a three-point shot, says Carmelo Anthony
Mobley is another player who will have the spotlight on him. Mobley is expected to take the next step in his career and possibly be an All-NBA type player.
He won the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award last season and has continued to improve since joining the league.
If he can become more consistent from three-point range, Anthony believes it could change everything for him this season. “He has to take that next step. If Mobley gets that three ball down, he’ll be unstoppable.
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“My thing about Mobley is, is he tough enough to go through this and want that? Does he really do he want that from a toughness standpoint? Do the Cavaliers want it from a toughness standpoint?”
The Cavaliers are under pressure to make good on their high expectations this year and finally push deeper into the playoffs.
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