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The Cleveland Cavaliers have quietly become one of the most successful and prestigious franchises in the Eastern Conference, but doubts persist as to whether or not they have what it takes to overtake the New York Knicks as the conference and NBA's best team.
The Cavs have been busy tweaking their roster in recent days, signing a draft-and-stash prospect following their Peyton Watson and James Harden deals. Watson's agent Rich Paul also made a surprising admission on one of Watson's recent health challenges.
Cleveland fans will have the chance to play as Watson, and their favorite team, in NBA 2K27 this year and beyond as the game was released today.
Prior to its release, player ratings were leaked, giving fans a chance to debate who was ranked too high, too low, or just right in this year's game.
Here are three Cavaliers players whose ratings will need serious tweaking at some point during the 2026-27 season judging on their 2025-26 performances and current trajectories:
1. Peyton Watson (79 OVR):
The recent trade acquisition Watson is a great fit for the Cavs' current roster because of his ability to make plays on both ends of the court with athleticism and anticipation.
The former Nuggets forward will thrive alongside Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and the rest of the Cavs' paint players who will offer him protection and allow him to roam on both offense and defense.
Watson was traded from Denver because the Nuggets didn't want to risk losing him in free agency, not because of a talent deficit. A 79 overall rating is criminally low for a player who could vault the Cavaliers ahead of the Knicks and other Eastern Conference contenders this season.
I expect Watson to improve his shooting percentage, and his numbers across the board, in 2026-27 along with his NBA 2K27 rating. Don't be surprised if Watson shoots up into the mid-80s after a strong start to the season with coach Kenny Atkinson's team.
2. Evan Mobley (87 OVR):
Mobley is coming off of back-to-back 18-plus point regular seasons with the Cavaliers and is still just 25 years of age.
He is currently rated 87 overall in NBA 2K27 placing him on par with James Harden, who is in the twilight stages of his career by most accounts despite a solid 2026 postseason in Cleveland.
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Mobley is still growing into his long and active frame. As his body and mind continue to mature, his game will continue to improve in countless little ways that will make him an even better player.
He's played alongside Allen for five seasons but hasn't had a player quite like Watson to assist him on defense (specially shot blocking against smaller forwards) and offense, where Watson can drive the ball deep into the teeth of the defense to set up offensive rebounding opportunities.
Mobley will finish the season out ranked at least 90 overall as the Cavs once again push deep into the NBA Playoffs.
3. Sam Merrill (77 OVR, 91 3PT):
Merrill outshot former Cavs guard/forward Max Strus last season and is now in line for a bigger role with Atkinson's team.
The Utah native is a catch-and-shoot machine who suddenly finds himself on a complete team with Watson adding more size compared to Strus and more athleticism to trigger fast break runout opportunities and perhaps more open three-pointers.
Last season, Merrill was one of the NBA's better three-point shooters (over 42% last season) and better free throw shooters, putting his pure stroke on display on a nightly basis with the Cavaliers. I expect his three-point rating to rise in NBA 2K27 as he continues to refine his shooting skills.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden add to the logjam among Cavs perimeter shooters, but I expect Harden to take less shots and the Cavaliers to become more of an inside-outside team focusing on drives to the basket, pounding the glass, and taking more three-pointers in 2026.
Merrill showed he is a player the Cavs can trust to take big shots in last year's playoff series vs. the Pistons and is poised for a better season in 2026-27.
If the Cavs can rely more on a team-focused approach and less on Harden and (at times) Mitchell isos, Merrill, and the team as a whole, will ultimately benefit, allowing Mitchell to preserve his energy and take over games in crunch time similar to earlier in his career.