What Is the Cleveland Cavs' Starting Lineup?
The starting lineup has finally stayed upright this season after going through plenty of turbulence last season. Unfortunately, it was not smooth sailing last season, as injuries destroyed their chances of contending. The injuries have crept back up, and now, Donovan Mitchell has reaggravated his ankle injury. That was a major reason why their season ended, as the injuries started to rise.
| Position | Starter |
| Point Guard | Darius Garland |
| Shooting Guard | Donovan Mitchell |
| Small Forward | Max Strus |
| 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. He causes matchup problems because of that speed, as most defenders simply cannot keep him in front of them. Entering his sixth NBA season, he has never played in 70 games. But his scoring is up this season, as he is averaging 20.5 points per game and has become the reliable second option behind Mitchell. Garland returned in Game 3, and has not shown signs of his toe injury. Now, he hopes to sustain his play.
Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell was the prized acquisition before the 2022-2023 season, costing the Cavaliers multiple future first-round picks as they outbid the New York Knicks to get him. Mitchell's stats are slightly down from last season, yet he is still the top option in this offense and the guy who makes it hum. Mitchell shined to start the playoffs, leading the Cavs with 30 points. He is averaging 25.6 points per game in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Unfortunately, Mitchell reinjured his ankle in Game 4, and is a game-time decision for Game 5.
Small Forward Max Strus
Strus has been in the league for five seasons, and in his sixth, he has evolved into a full-time starter after finally getting the chance last season. So far, he has been a key contributor in this offense, being a secondary option on offense behind the big stars, and doing his part on defense. He has been hot in this series, hitting two or more shots from beyond the arc in every game.
Power Forward Evan Mobley
Mobley is always a top option to win DPOY by most Ohio sportsbooks. He was the third overall pick of the 2021 draft and is an accomplished 23-year-old who averaged 15.0 points as a rookie and 15.7 points last season, with 1.4 blocked shots and .9 steals per game, showcasing his abilities as a terrific two-way player. His rim-protecting defense alongside Jarrett Allen makes the Cavaliers a tricky matchup for every opponent aside from Minnesota, who the Cavaliers play only twice. Mobley is looking to stay healthy and keep the Cavs alive.
Center Jarrett Allen
Allen is an elite shot-blocker who the Cavaliers were fortunate to acquire when the Brooklyn Nets were going all-in on James Harden and traded away several of their best young players. Tip of the hat to Koby Altman for making that trade. Allen has thrived so far in his fifth season in Cleveland, averaging 13.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting over 70 percent from the field.
Who Is on the Cleveland Cavs' Bench?
| Position | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Point Guard | Ty Jerome | Donovan Mitchell | Craig Porter Jr. |
| Shooting Guard | Sam Merrill | Max Strus | Isaac Okoro |
| Small Forward | De'Andre Hunter | Isaac Okoro | Javonte Green |
| Power Forward | Dean Wade | De'Andre Hunter | Javonte Green |
| Center | Evan Mobley | Tristan Thompson | Dean Wade |
De'Andre Hunter is the newest addition to the Cavaliers, as they acquired him in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. So far, he is averaging 14 points per game off the bench since ing the Cavs. His injury in the playoffs leaves question marks about who will step up. Significantly, Ty Jerome has stepped up, averaging 17.2 points per game in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Cavs will need more from Sam Merrill.
The Cavs have dominated the Eastern Conference this season, with competition only from the Celtics and the Knicks. The rest of the Eastern Conference, from the fourth seed to the eighth seed, is competitive, and the Cavs have dispatched the Miami Heat in the First Round. They will now face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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?
Hunter is the guy, and 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. For years, he was one of the most productive players for the Hawks. Now, he will bring his experience to the Cavaliers and give them the extra weapon they need. He is on the board at ESPN BET for NBA Sixth Man Award odds.
If you're considering betting on Hunter or Mobley to win NBA awards (or on the Cavs to win the Finals or the East), make sure to use the best Ohio sportsbook promos available today.
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 first season with the Cavaliers. Prior to this season, he served as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, and served as an assistant coach for the past 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 ing the Cavaliers' front office, where he was promoted to GM 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.
