‘Playoff closer’ identified as Cavs’ biggest need entering season

Everyone who knows the Cavaliers knows they have a reputation as a great regular-season team. Beyond that, though, they have plenty of doubts.

No less than Donovan Mitchell himself has suggested that’s fair. The Cavs finished with 64 wins two seasons ago … then lost in the second round of the playoffs. They reached the East finals last year … but got swept by the Knicks.

So what’s their biggest hole entering this season, the third under coach Kenny Atkinson? Well, according to ESPN’s Ben Golliver, the answer is a “playoff closer.”

Maybe that man is Mitchell. Maybe it’ll be James Harden on some nights. Maybe it could be Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen. Or maybe it’s someone who’s (gasp) not yet on the team.

Either way, the Cavs will need someone, anyone, to deliver when the season means the most. 

“Though Mitchell reached a new milestone by leading a team to the conference finals for the first time in his nine-year career, Cleveland was left to ponder whether its expensive and veteran-dominated roster will ever be able to get over the hump,” Golliver wrote. “Rather than shake up the core group or change coaches, the Cavaliers kept the band together and added forward Peyton Watson to address what had been its biggest starting lineup hole.”

Now, to be clear, the Cavs believe this roster has a good chance to “get over the hump,” or they wouldn’t have kept the band largely together and re-signed Harden this summer. They’re willing to be patient, see how it comes together and ignore the noise along the way.

But just like with every team that fails to win a title (and even some that do), the noise is there and the pressure is on.

“Once the Cavaliers elected to run it back, the pressure returned to Mitchell, Harden and Evan Mobley to deliver a Finals run,” Golliver wrote. “The 37-year-old Harden showed his age by averaging 4.7 turnovers in the 2026 postseason, and Mobley struggled to take over in close games due to his limited shot-creating ability and range. Mitchell remains Cleveland’s best option to play hero, but his recent playoff track record suggests he’s at risk of being outdueled by rival stars.”

So there you have it. The Cavs have won a lot of games, reached the conference finals and kept most of the core intact. What they still haven’t done is find the guy who consistently takes over when a playoff game gets tight and ugly.

Maybe that’s Mitchell. Maybe Harden has enough left to do it some nights. Maybe Mobley becomes that guy. But until someone does, the question isn’t going anywhere.