The Cleveland Cavs saw a devastating end to their Eastern Conference Finals run as the New York Knicks handed them a quick sweep to make their first NBA Finals since 1999. They overcame back-to-back Game 7 wins against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons, capping their season off with an ECF trip after finishing fourth during the regular season. Now, we'll take a look at some upcoming NBA Mock Draft takes on what the Cavs may do with their lone first-round pick.
Many questions will be answered surrounding the future of head coach Kenny Atkinson and a number of players with expiring deals this offseason. While the Cavs are expected to retain their core group of stars in Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, they're the only team above the NBA's second apron for salary cap, seriously restricting their potential roster moves in the coming months.
James Harden is expected to opt-out of his player option, leaving names like Dean Wade likely on the move with their current contracts expiring. The Cavaliers also only hold one pick (via San Antonio) in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, so they'll have to make the most of their current situation and likely hitting the trade market to free up cap space.
Nevertheless, every draft pick can eventually turn into something special, so we'll be rounding up all the projected picks from experts around the league to see which direction the Cleveland Cavs may go during the draft.
Cavs' 2026 Mock Draft roundup
**ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel**Pick 29: SF/PF Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State (Sr.)
ESPN's Jeremy Woo
Pick 29: PF/C Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's (Sr.)
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor
Pick 29: SG/SF Dailyn Swain, Texas (Jr.)
Sporting News' Stephen Noh
Pick 29: SF Amari Allen, Alabama (Fr.)
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman
Pick 29: SG Sergio de Larrea, Valencia, Spain
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Cavs' Mock Draft Analysis
Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) drives to the basket
William Purnell-Imagn Images
With James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley more than likely returning to place in Cleveland during 2026-27, key role players like Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, and Thomas Bryant could be on the move to either free up cap space or add capital for future drafts. There have also been talks that the Cavs' could be sellers with the 29th overall pick given how deep this upcoming draft is, potentially able to land a superstar signing like Lakers' LeBron James or Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Cavs didn't perform their best during the Eastern Conference Finals by any means and a glaring issue was their defense down the stretch. They'll be in need of interior support as well as an athletic wing who can guard multiple positions. The Cavs would also benefit from a player who's ready to play immediately as opposed to a project for the upcoming years.
ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel likes Iowa State Senior SF/PF Joshua Jefferson for the Cavs at No. 29 overall. Siegel writes, “While he is an older prospect with little room to grow, Joshua Jefferson is the type of versatile forward that teams know what they will be getting — physical toughness, playmaking at either forward position, a high understanding of where to be on the floor, and the ability to guard multiple positions.”
In terms of depth, Siegel believes the Cavs need to bolster their forward position as ESPN's Jeremy Woo and Stephen Noh of Sporting News would agree. St. John's Senior PF/C Zuby Ejiofor is another interesting selection for the Cavs, playing with a 7-2 wingspan and able to lockdown guards in the mid-range. He also plays with a high motor and can add to the energy of this defense. Alabama freshman SF Amari Allen offers a similar look with added athleticism and willing defense along the perimeters.
A final take from B/R lists SG Sergio de Larrea from Valencia, Spain going to the Cavs with the 29th pick. At just 19 years old, he may not be as much of a project as fans may think considering his production during the recent EuroLeague Playoffs. He's long and athletic with a strong accuracy from three which will only develop more once he gets the timing of the NBA down. It's certainly more of a risk for the Cavs to take a chance on a 19-year old from Europe given their win-now mentality, but de Larrea could prove to be a strong addition if he's able to produce from three early.
All in all, we're projecting the Cavs to either bolster their forward position through the NBA Draft or trade the No. 29 overall pick all together. Either way, things will certainly get interesting in Cleveland this offseason as big changes could be coming to multiple levels of the organization.
The Cleveland Cavs saw a devastating end to their Eastern Conference Finals run as the New York Knicks handed them a quick sweep to make their first NBA Finals since 1999. They overcame back-to-back Game 7 wins against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons, capping their season off with an ECF trip after finishing fourth during the regular season.