What Is the Cleveland Cavs' Starting Lineup?
The Cavaliers traded Isaac Okoro to Chicago for Lonzo Ball, adding two-way playmaking to the backcourt. With Darius Garland recovering from toe surgery and Max Strus out for at least the first month, Cleveland also reunited with Larry Nance Jr. The core of Donovan Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen returns, now joined by De’Andre Hunter. Below is the Cavaliers’ starting five for the season, when fully healthy. Due to injuries and other factors, the lineup can change at times.
| Position | Starter |
| Point Guard | Darius Garland |
| Shooting Guard | Donovan Mitchell |
| Small Forward | De’Andre Hunter |
| Power Forward | Evan Mobley |
| Center | Jarrett Allen |
Point Guard Darius Garland
Garland is a speed guard, one of the fastest players in the entire NBA. His quickness creates matchup problems, as most defenders struggle to stay in front of him. Entering his seventh NBA season after offseason toe surgery, he has regained full mobility and is actively participating in team practices and drills and expected to be the starting PG. Garland is listed as day-to-day, and when he’s sidelined, Lonzo Ball steps in at point guard.
Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell was the Cavaliers’ marquee acquisition before the 2022–23 season, costing the team multiple future first-round picks as they outbid the New York Knicks to land him. He serves as the primary option in the offense and is the player who makes it click. Ranking among the NBA’s top talents, Mitchell has been central to the team’s success and remains vital to their championship aspirations.
Small Forward De’Andre Hunter
De’Andre Hunter enters his first full season with the team following a midseason trade and has already proven himself as a versatile two-way player, contributing offensively while fitting seamlessly into the small forward role. He is expected to play a major role in the starting lineup this season.
Power Forward Evan Mobley
Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year last season and is once again near the top of the odds boards at most Ohio sportsbooks. The 24-year-old has proven himself as a dynamic two-way talent, and his rim-protecting presence alongside Jarrett Allen makes the Cavaliers a challenging matchup for any opponent this season.
Center Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen is an elite shot-blocker whom the Cavaliers were fortunate to acquire when the Brooklyn Nets went all-in on James Harden, trading away several of their top young players, a smart move by GM Koby Altman. Allen brings elite rim protection and rebounding to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting five, anchoring their defense while contributing efficiently on offense.
Who Is on the Cleveland Cavs' Bench?
Lonzo Ball joins the roster and will look to provide a spark off the bench, alongside Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, and Larry Nance Jr. There is great potential for this bunch to help the Cavs get to the next level.
| Position | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Point Guard | Lonzo Ball | Craig Porter Jr. | Tyrese Proctor |
| Shooting Guard | Sam Merrill | Jaylon Tyson | Lonzo Ball |
| Small Forward | Jaylon Tyson | Dean Wade | Chris Livingston |
| Power Forward | Dean Wade | Larry Nance Jr. | Chris Livingston |
| Center | Larry Nance Jr. | Thomas Bryant | Nae'Qwan Tomlin |
And if you want to make any of these players the nominal "captain" of your fantasy season, be sure to check out our story about funny fantasy basketball names.
Who Is the Cavs 6th Man?
In the offseason, we thought Hunter was the guy because the trade for him is a bona fide victory for the Cavaliers, who needed a talented and experienced guy to take over the reins as the sixth man. But after the start of the season, Lonzo Ball looks like he could be the a contender with +15000 NBA Sixth Man Award odds at DraftKings.
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Get to Know the Cleveland Cavs' Front Office
| Position | Staff Member |
| General Manager | Mike Gansey |
| Head Coach | Kenny Atkinson |
| Associate Head Coach | Johnnie Bryant |
Who Is the Cavs' Head Coach?
Kenny Atkinson is the head coach after the Cavaliers hired him before the season began, following the firing of J.B. Bickerstaff. He is in his second season with the Cavaliers. He previously served as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, and served as an assistant coach for four seasons for the Golden State Warriors.
Who Is the Cavs' General Manager?
Gansey was a very good high school player who finished runner-up to LeBron James for Ohio's Mr. Basketball at Olmsted Falls H.S. He played in the D-League and in the Summer League for the Heat and Clippers but never made it to the NBA. He was G-League Executive of the Year for the Canton Charge in 2017 before joining the Cavaliers' front office, where he was promoted to GM over a year ago under president of basketball operations Koby Altman.
Cleveland Cavaliers Depth Chart FAQs
Dan Gilbert, who made his fortune in the online mortgage industry, has been the team's primary owner since 2005, purchasing the team for what was the highest bid for a professional sports team at the time. Rapper Usher is a minority owner of the Cavaliers.
Koby Altman is president of basketball operations. From Brooklyn, he's been in the Cavaliers' front office since 2012. He is credited with making the trades that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston and brought Wade to Cleveland. His draft picks have included Garland, Collin Sexton, Okoro, and Mobley. The brains of the operation, he also engineered the deal for Mitchell.
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
