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Cavaliers roster, depth chart breakdown after LeBron James picks 76ers
Cavaliers roster, depth chart breakdown after LeBron James picks 76ers
Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon JournalSat, July 25, 2026 at 10:01 AM UTC·6 min readAs the first few weeks of NBA free agency unfolded, the Cavaliers refrained from making any additions to their roster, and the strategy pointed to Cleveland not just wanting LeBron James, but, in many ways, needing the Akron native.
The risk did not pay off. Instead of reuniting with the Cavs for a third tour, the 41-year-old James agreed on Friday, July 24, to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be a bargain for Philly, too, a two-year, $8 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith James choosing the 76ers, here is where the Cavs' roster stands after they went 52-30 in the 2025-26 regular season and were swept in the Eastern Conference Finals by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks:
Cavs starters with LeBron James signing revealed
Here are Cleveland's projected starters for the 2026-27 season, with their 2026 playoff statistics listed:
Point guard James Harden (all 18 games, 19.2 points on 41% shooting from the field, including 29.9% on 3-pointers, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.7 turnovers, 1.7 steals and 37.3 minutes)
Guard Donovan Mitchell (all 18 games, 26 points on 45.1% shooting, 32.7% on 3s, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.6 turnovers, 1.2 steals and 36.2 minutes)
Small forward Max Strus (all 18 games, 9.6 points on 40.6% shooting, 35.8% on 3s, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 turnovers and 26.7 minutes)
Forward Evan Mobley (all 18 games, 17 points on 53.5% shooting, 33.8% on 3s, 8.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.8 blocked shots and 35.5 minutes)
Center Jarrett Allen (all 18 games, 12.7 points on 63.5% shooting, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 turnovers, one steal, 1.7 blocks and 29.4 minutes)
Cleveland Cavaliers roster analysis as dust settles from LeBron James news
With the James sweepstakes wrapped up, Harden is expected re-sign with the Cavs on a multiyear deal. He had declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season in late June to give the Cavs greater financial flexibility in their pursuit of the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUntil James finalized his decision, the biggest Cavs news this summer was seven-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection Mitchell signing a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with Cleveland. Mitchell, 29, would have been eligible to sign an extension next summer worth an additional $80 million, yet he opted to avoid any hint of drama an unresolved contractual situation can create.
Mobley, 25, is under contract through the 2029-30 season. Allen, 28, is under contract through the 2028-29 season.
In other words, the Cavs have their core from last season, or at least the core they revamped in February when they traded point guard Darius Garland, 26, to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Harden, 36.
The Cavs have been searching for an answer at the wing position since the 6-foot-9 James left them for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Although James has increasingly skewed toward power forward in recent years, he can play virtually any position, including point guard and small-ball center.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt's among the reasons the Cavs failing to secure a homecoming for James is detrimental. He could have truly elevated the team with his play, leadership, experience as a four-time NBA champion and basketball genius. In the 2026 playoffs, he averaged 23.3 points on 45.9% shooting, 32.7% on 3s, 6.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 3.8 turnovers, 1.3 steals and 38.4 minutes with the Lakers.
The Cavs thought they solved their wing problem when they traded for De'Andre Hunter in February 2025. However, Hunter didn't pan out during his second season with the Cavs, and they traded him in January to the Sacramento Kings for point guard Dennis Schroder and guard Keon Ellis, who signed with the Brooklyn Nets (two years, $18 million) this summer as a free agent.
In the 2026 playoffs, the Cavs started Dean Wade at small forward in 14 of their 18 games, which included 4-3 series wins over the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons and the 4-0 loss to the Knicks. He averaged 4.4 points on 46.2% shooting, 37.5% on 3s, 3.9 rebounds, 0.6 turnovers and 22.6 minutes in the postseason.
Wade, 29, recently left in free agency, signing with the 76ers (four years, $39 million). Another player capable of operating at forward and center, Larry Nance Jr., departed the Cavs this summer as a free agent, and the Revere High School graduate signed with the Indiana Pacers (one year, $3.9 million).
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For now, Strus is the projected starter at small forward, a role he filled in four of Cleveland's 18 playoff games this past spring. Strus was a full-time playoff starter in his first two Cavs seasons before a Jones fracture in his left foot limited him in 2025-26 after he completed an impressive comeback.
Strus, 30, is a quality role player, but even if he is fully healthy, he's undersized as a wing at 6-5. Another in-house option at wing is Jaylon Tyson, 23, who is 6-6 and coming off a promising second season, albeit with some rough playoff moments in the mix. Still, Wade is 6-9, and he was the Cavs' best perimeter defender.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith James and Wade in Philly, the Cavs still need to address wing. It's why they have been linked to Jonathan Kuminga, a free agent who played for Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson as a member of the Golden State Warriors. For financial reasons, a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks may be the most realistic route for the Cavs to acquire Kuminga.
It's also important to remember Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman has not been the least bit shy about taking in-season swings. He traded for Hunter two seasons ago and dealt for Harden this past season. The NBA trade deadline for the 2026-27 season will be in February.
Cavs depth chart after LeBron James sweepstakes
Projected starters aside, here is the rest of the Cavs' depth chart, with 2026 playoff stats listed for those who were regulars in the rotation:
Guard Sam Merrill (17 of 18 games, 7.8 points on 42.7% shooting, 37.2% on 3s, 1.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 turnovers and 19.9 minutes)
Point guard Dennis Schroder (17 of 18 games, 5.5 points on 38.1% shooting, 33.3% on 3s, 1.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 turnovers and 15.9 minutes)
Forward/guard Jaylon Tyson (17 of 18 games, 4.1 points on 36.2% shooting, 23.7% on 3s, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 turnovers and 12.7 minutes)
Center Thomas Bryant, who re-signed with the Cavs this summer, returning on a one-year, $3.5 million deal (nine of 18 games, 1.9 points on 28.6% shooting, 16.7% on 3s, 1.2 rebounds, 0.2 turnovers and 4.6 minutes)
Point guard Craig Porter Jr., who had his fourth year option exercised by the Cavs this summer
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Guard Meleek Thomas, whom the Cavs drafted in the second round (No. 34 overall) this year
Forward Tristan Enaruna, who's on a two-way contract
Forward Riley Minix, who's on a two-way contract
Center Ernest Udeh Jr., who's on a two-way contract
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers roster, depth chart breakdown after LeBron James picks 76ers
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