The second annual "Cavs Consensus Survey" is complete! Last year, over 250 of you participated in our inaugural survey, answering 31 questions about the Cavaliers and the NBA. This year, we had an even greater response with 273 entrants, who answered 43 questions on similar topics.
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey, and special thanks to the Cavs subreddit community, which has been a fantastic source of participants for both seasons.
The final figures this year landed us at 273 entrants. At season's end, whether we're holding the Larry O'Brien, or yelling at Jarrett Allen, someone will be $500 richer. Without any more delay, I give you the results of this year’s 2025-26 Cavs Consensus Survey.
Section A: The Cleveland Cavs Questions
1.) How do you feel about the Cavaliers offseason?
Results: More than 78% of Cavs fans walked away from this offseason feeling positive (63%), or extremely positive (16%). Nobody in the entire sample (273 respondents) chose “extremely negative”, and there were just 9 survey participants who selected “negative” (up from 3 last season).
My Take: I felt positive. While my dream offseason would have included retaining Ty as well, this team is deeper than it was at the conclusion of last season. Lonzo Ball, Larry Nance Jr., Tyrese Proctor, and Thomas Bryant are all playable additions. When it comes to frontcourt depth, I think the Cavs made major steps forward to "future proof" themselves against injuries to either Jarrett or Evan.
2.) How would you describe your feelings about the Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro trade?
Results: Lonzo's addition was extremely well-received, and future survey questions will indicate just how much optimism Cavs fans have. There was a single survey participant (0.4%) who hated the deal, and just 17 of the 273 chose to take a wait and see approach (neutral).
My Take: I fell into the “extremely positive” column here. I thought the Cavs were generous in giving Isaac $11 million per year, when they had the leverage RFA provides, and while I appreciate his on-ball defense, his role had diminished.
I think those dollars were better utilized to secure a seasoned guard like Lonzo. Additionally, I love the financial flexibility Lonzo's smaller contract provides, as it's fully escapable next offseason, (*whispers*) if things go horribly wrong. In short... I believe the Cavs obtained a better (albeit less healthy) player, on a substantially better contract.
3.) Which is the best element of the Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro trade?
Results: The fandom bought into what Lonzo Ball can provide when he's on the court. While a quarter of fans (25.3%) said the biggest benefit of the trade was "acquiring Ty's replacement", 63% simply love Lonzo's stylistic fit. Over 10% of you (cap nerds) know a good financial maneuver when you see one. Lastly, 3 Cavalier fans refuse to depart Okoro Island. Your loyalty is to be commended.
My Take: I fell into the “contract" slice of the pie here. I think it's fair to question if Lonzo's basketball talents will overcome the obvious injury risk. But I think it's unquestionably a win on the financial front.
As Isaac's minutes waned, the Cavaliers were tied to two more years and over $22 million dollars of guaranteed money (not to mention the "unlikely incentives" which count against those second apron figures). Lonzo gives them the 2026-27 team option as a hedge against his health issues, which is enough for justify this move without a second thought.
In tax dollars, even $1 million less in 2025-26 salary (Lonzo's $10mil vs. Isaac's $11), equates to roughly 6 to 7 million in luxury tax savings. Over the past two seasons, I have been disappointed with our bench play in the playoffs, so my hope is that Lonzo raises the level of the guys on the court alongside him, in a way Ty was incapable of doing.
4.) How would you describe your feelings about Ty Jerome's departure?
Results: Half the fanbase (56.4%) was disappointed to see Ty Jerome leave, but supportive of the team's choice to move on. Slightly over 20% of you feel the team made the wrong decision in letting Ty Jerome walk, but fall on the side of disappointment, rather than anger. 7 of you actively celebrated when Ty departed (you pigs), and 16 of you (5.9%) were ready to burn this place to the ground.
My Take: My answer would be "disappointed and disagree with the team", with serious consideration given to "very upset".
Cleveland is in a title window, and for the next two seasons at least, I'm openly opposed to tax-saving measures that weaken the roster. The Cavs have nobody on their bench capable of creating their own offense like Ty, and until the summer of '27 when the competitive consequences of being a second apron team kick in (pick freezing, and sliding), it's pedal to the floor for this Cavs fan. I would have happily lit $42 million tax dollars of Dan Gilbert's money on fire.
Had you told me in March that Ty would end up on a contract (3yrs/$28mil) that was BOTH smaller and shorter than Sam Merrill, I would have punched the air in joy. Unfortunately, its for the wrong team.
5.) Which of these best describe your feelings about Ty Jerome?
Results: I failed you structurally. This question suffers from an obvious flaw. Several of the answers aren't mutually exclusive. But in my defense, I wanted to know which of these sentiments you felt strongest. The results were evenly divided.
The biggest response (26.1%) was that "Ty Jerome was a playoff liability, but he should have been retained", closely followed by the trio of "Ty should not have been prioritized over Sam" (21.7%), "I was opposed to losing Ty, until Lonzo was acquired" (20.6%) and "Ty should have been prioritized over Sam" (18%). 17 (6.3%) of you were entirely opposed to letting Ty walk, and 20 (7.4%) of you saw enough against Indiana to terminate the whole Jerome experiment.
My Take: No need to rehash what I said above. But I'll add to it. I believe all the following to be true:
1.) Ty Jerome is a better player than Sam Merrill.
2.) Ty Jerome is on a better contract than Sam Merrill.
3.) Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill could both have been retained.
My takeaway from this whole ordeal is that the narrative became "Sam vs. Ty", or "Lonzo vs. Ty", when the real battle that the front office needed to wage was less guaranteed years for both Ty and Sam, regardless of the short-term tax hit.
The goal should have been to keep the guaranteed money to 2 years, so that the Cavs possessed maximum flexibility in the summer of '27. Merrill may prove to be well worth his new four-year deal, but if the core is disassembled in the summer of '27, those extra 2 years of Merrill at age 31 and 32 are largely meaningless, and perhaps detrimental.
6.) How would you describe your feelings about Larry Nance Jr.'s signing?
Results: A whopping 83.6% of you said "positive" or "extremely positive". Larry has a lot of fans in Cleveland. Only one solitary fan, who I'm tempted to doxx, said "negative". He is certain to die alone.
My Take: Cavs fans get it. Our backup center last year was Tristan Thompson. Our backup centers this year are Larry Nance Jr., and Thomas Bryant. Both guys are on minimum contracts. That is a win no matter what. The bar is exceptionally low to collectively contribute more playable minutes than we asked of TT last season. I love the versatility and injury safeguards that having depth behind Allen and Mobley affords Cleveland. Plus, both are reasonably capable outside shooters. Space and pace rules the day!
7.) A year from today, which of these transactions will be viewed most favorably?
Results: Over half of you (146 respondents) said the Lonzo Ball acquisition will stand the test of time. Larry Nance Jr.'s homecoming was the next most popular choice (21%), with 1 of every 5 respondents choosing that. Resigning Sam Merrill received 12.5% of the vote.
My Take: I'd select the Larry Nance Jr. addition, and that's almost entirely because there are no "if only this happens" elements of the pay off. He's on the lowest salary possible, so there is no financial risk. Nothing was given to obtain him in terms of player or draft capital, so Cavs fans don't need to concern themselves with the other end of the deal. And finally, the player whose role he's replacing (Tristan and/or Dean) has set the bar pretty low.
The sole reason I wouldn't pick Lonzo is because he has a lot more expectations of both improving upon what Ty Jerome provided AND being healthy when we need him. Neither of those are guarantees.
8.) Which best describes your feelings on the "Core Four"?
Results: The faith is holding strong. 109 respondents said that they, like Koby Altman, still believe in the makeup of our roster. The second most cited answer was "I have doubts, but I'm willing to give them the remainder of Mitchell's contract". This received nearly 35% of the vote. 9 of you (3.3%) believed we already should have disassembled the "Core Four".
My Take: I'm in that yellow wedge myself ("give them through the summer of '27"). I continue to believe that aligning four top-50 players in this CBA will prove near impossible in the future, and that we should not take this window for granted.
I have my doubts that this Cavalier team will ever be fully healthy when it matters, and perimeter defense can be a concern, but I love that all four of the core members of this squad occupy a unique role and they are firmly in their prime.
My natural pivot point is the summer of '27, and while I understand 3 years of playoff disappointment can feel like an eternity, half of you are Browns fans, so act like you've been here before ["here" being disappointment].
9.) If forced to trade a "Core Four" member, who would it be?
Results: You pigs picked Jarrett Allen. 152 misguided souls selected "the 'Fro", accounting for 55% of the total vote. Darius Garland came in second, with nearly 35% of the votes cast.
Comparing this year's results to last year, Darius is down from 58% to 34.1% and Allen is up from 36.5% to 55%.
Donovan Mitchell showed up on 10.3% of ballots cast in 2025-26, and NOBODY voted for Evan Mobley.
My Take: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." - Jesus
Look, I get it. I do. In terms of on-court value, Jarrett Allen is the most limited player of the "Core Four". He's asked to do the least.
But, let me try to make my case for why he is the incorrect answer, and for why nearly 56% of you are irredeemable scumbags. I am going to do so in a way that is IN NO WAY influenced by the hours I've spent building the "Fear the 'Fro" brand.
Let's start with financials.
Jarrett Allen enters the season as the 89rd-highest paid player in the NBA. He enters the season as the 5th-highest paid Cav. Next season, when his contract extension kicks in, he will climb to the 65th-highest paid player in the league. As free agency takes place next summer, that ranking will slide, likely to land the 'Fro somewhere around 75th.
ESPN just ranked Jarrett Allen as the 45th best player in the NBA.
Let that sink in.
Jarrett Allen has outperformed his deal. And before you hit me with the "well he stinks in the playoffs", I BEG you to consider your own biases. Let me present with some numbers that might give you pause:
Jarrett Allen (2024-25 Regular Season): 13.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, .9 SPG, .9 BPG, 72.4% TS Percentage
Jarrett Allen (2025 Playoffs): 13.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, .9 BPG, 79.2% TS Percentage ... +73 Plus/Minus
Evan Mobley (2024-25 Regular Season): 18.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, .9 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 63.3% TS Percentage
Evan Mobley (2025 Playoffs): 17.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1 BPG, 69.9% TS Percentage ... +11 Plus/Minus
Now, the purpose in providing those is not to diminish Evan. He's the future. He's on the ascent, and he's the youngest member of the "Core Four". But it should make you question the apportionment of playoff blame. We over index the final games against the Knicks and the Pacers, because those carried the most emotional trauma.
A former all-star making less than Kyle Kuzma (who stinks), should not be held to the same standard as our "30% of the cap" players.
Now consider the alternative choices in this question.
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley enter the season tied as the 15th-highest paid players in the NBA at roughly $46 million dollars. According to ESPN's Top 100 they are ranked #15, and 13 respectively. More damning is that Garland is the 28th-highest paid player in the NBA, and ESPN ranks him as the 38th best player in the NBA.
Are any of those results bad? No, not really. They're all reasonably close to how they should be paid.
Do subjective ESPN rankings mean that our players are net-negative values? No.
But the point is this. If players like Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley are going to command 30% of the salary cap in this second apron world, they NEED to justify those deals in the playoffs. If i provided you with a top-100 NBA players in the playoffs ranking, where do you think DG would land right now?
Mobley is not a "when he puts it all together" guy anymore. At 30% of the cap, he needs to create his own success right now. A player making making 13% of the cap (Allen) can have their role dictated by the system. A player making 30% of the cap needs to BE the system. The time for patience is behind us.
10.) Which member of the "Core Four" possesses the most trade value?
Results: Of course, it's our DPOY. He's the youngest, a perennial All-NBA defender, and he possesses all the emerging offensive skills you could want in a big (shooting, handle, passing, length). 75% of you were in agreement.
More interesting, perhaps, is that the remainder of the votes were evenly divided between Mitchell (9.6%), Garland (8.5%), and Allen (7.4%).
My Take: I'm in complete agreement. Evan Mobley can be dropped into nearly any team in the league and he's replacing the starting 4 or 5. There aren't questions on if his skills are redundant. There aren't questions on his ability to play alongside more featured stars. He's the ultimate unicorn with very few deficiencies.
If I were to rank the others, my order would be slightly different than the poll results. I would go:
1.) Mitchell
2.) Allen
3.) Garland
Mitchell is clearly the best player of that trio, and he's the single most proven playoff performer on the roster. But if anything is a drag to his trade value, it's that he'll be 31 at the time he can re-enter UFA, and that is coming sooner than the other two. So suitors would be looking at a slightly older player, with less team control, staring at a Devin Booker-type extension (2 years, $145 mil), whose always been the first option. That can cloud the market.
The reason I would put Allen above Garland is two-fold. The primary reason is financials. Secondarily, lead guard is a very deep position in the NBA, and acquiring a new floor general, who makes top dollar, may require secondary moves (either to clear space, and tweak the roster). Garland needs to play alongside good defenders, whereas Allen is as traditional of a pivot fit as there is.
Every team can use a center who is a positive on both ends of the floor and doesn't require touches. I think for those reason, JA has more easily defined trade value, because he's easier to obtain, and easier to assimilate to any culture.
11.) Do you believe Donovan Mitchell can be the best player on a contending team?
Results: 81.3% of you said "yes" in the 2nd Annual Survey. The real takeaway is that when you compare this identical question to last year's answer, Donovan has lost ground. In the 2024-25 survey, 94.1% voted "yes".
My Take: It's only natural as playoff losses compound, that skepticism rises. I think we all recognize that despite his unbelievable playoff runs, it's a tall ask to win the title with Donovan as your best player, unless the other players can maintain their regular season form.
I don't view these results as a reflection that Donovan's got worse. Quite the opposite in fact. His playoff resume is stellar. If anything, I think our fanbase is coming to terms with how small the margin for error is on teams not headlined by Lebron James.
12.) As of now, do you believe the Cavaliers "won the trade" with the Utah Jazz that acquired Donovan Mitchell?
Results: Nearly 96% of Cavs fans feel confident declaring the Donovan Mitchell trade a win, and why wouldn't you given last year's results? That's up from 80.1% in 2024-25's Survey.
While the Cavs had one of their most successful regular season campaigns of all-time in 2024-25, and Donovan was named a 1st-Team All-NBA player (something only Lebron and Mark Price have achieved as Cavs before him), the Jazz floundered and traded swap rights involving the Cavs 1st-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2029 to Phoenix for a single unprotected 2031 1st.
For those keeping score at home, Donovan Mitchell has turned into:
- Lauri Markkanen (on a 5 year, $238 million dollar contract)
- Isaiah Collier (via Ochai Agbagi trade)
- Jusuf Nurkic (via Collin Sexton and a 2nd-round pick)
- The Suns Unprotected 2031 1st-round pick
- Swap Rights for the Cavs 1st-round picks in 2026, 2028
My Take: Nothing can be declared until all the dominoes have fallen, but I think it's safe to feel like this trade was won the moment Donovan Mitchell extended in Cleveland. Only one team can win the title, and maybe it's never the Cavs, but being the odds-on favorite in the East is exactly what the Cavs had in mind when they pushed all their chips into the center of the table.
Utah trying to consolidate three Cavs picks in a trade for a PHX pick with higher upside, tells you everything you need to know about their faith that Cleveland will be bad prior to 2029's draft.
13.) Who should be the 5th starter (*assume full health*)?
Results: De'Andre Hunter is the people's champion. Bear in mind, this poll closed before preseason. I suspect the gap would have widened with the benefit of hindsight, but the Cavs fan base gave a slight edge to De'Andre Hunter (49.1%) over Max Strus (41.8%). Dean Wade was the next choice, with 17 votes (6.2%) to Sam Merrill's 8 (2.9%).
My Take: I choose Hunter, in large part because of the financial commitment Cleveland took on to obtain him. I like big ball. It's no secret based on who I named the pod after. If you're going to spend $25 million dollars on Hunter, then you must see what you have in him. Cleveland has been chasing the SF fix for years at this point.
The flipside of that is that if Hunter proves to be better utilized off the bench, because he can create more offense than Max Strus, I'm ok with that too. Who starts isn't as important as what allows each guy to thrive. But not giving Hunter a chance to start is the equivalent to buying trading cards and leaving them sealed in the packages.
14.) What is most at fault for the Pacers playoff series loss?
Results: Predictably, the majority of Cavs fans picked "injuries" as the biggest factor in our Playoffs loss. 170 of of the 273 respondents picked that answer (62.3%). Offense (which was the downfall for both Darius and Ty) was second with 19.8%, followed by "coaching/execution" (the Haliburton game winner), and defense with a mere 6.2%.
My Take: The answer reads like an excuse, and it will piss off Pacers fans, but I agree. That was the single biggest reason, not the only reason.
Darius was a husk of himself. Hunter went from being perhaps our best player in the Miami series, to limited and out of rhythm after his fall, and Evan missed time.
Offense is the clear second choice because Darius and Ty Jerome could not find water in the ocean (a combined 6/30 from deep), but it's simply hard to accept that Darius goes from the most clutch guy in the league to THAT without that toe playing a huge role.
15.) Evan Mobley winning DPOY was:
Results: I'm glad that the cynicism of this second apron world didn't syphon more Cavs fans into the the "root against our own guys" slice of this pie chart. 80.5% of you responded with "My Desired Outcome... Contract Escalators Be Damned". Only 19.5% said "An Outcome I Wish Was Avoided For Salary Cap Purposes".
My Take: Logically, it should be something I root against. But what's the point of sports if not to succumb to your emotional side. Put me with the wine slice!
Evan may never achieve that honor again in a Victor Wembanyama world, and you can make the case Wemby's half season of dominance warrants a rule change, but it's forever on Evan's resume now, and just like Mark Price's 1st-team All-NBA (in the era of Michael Jordan), you can never take that away from him.
16.) An acceptable outcome for the 2025-26 season has to include:
Results: Over 95% of Cavs fans expect progress this year. 38.1% would be content with an Eastern Conference Finals showing as the floor (down from 54% last year), and 57.9% expect to the represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals (up from 4.7% last year) . Two voters would be happy if we just put up a fight in the 2nd round this year (you're both probably patient, wonderful parents).
My Take: I expect to make the Eastern Conference Finals at least. I respect New York. I don't think beating them is a given. But if this season ends with an upset at the hands of a younger Orlando team, or any team led by Trae Young, I will consider our postseason a failure. Progress, not perfection.
17.) If you have to face one of the following teams in the 1st round, who would you prefer:
Results: How things changed in just one year. In 2024-25, 47.9% of respondents chose Indiana. Thanks a lot you jinxes. This year, it's a much more even divide, but 61 of you picked Boston, making them the preferred first round victim (or oppressor) of the Cavs. More of you chose the Knicks (4.8%) than the Orlando Magic (2.2%), which is interesting.
My Take: Give me Indiana. I want to exercise some demons. There are rumors Tatum is way ahead of schedule, and while I don't fear Boston post-teardown, I certainly don't fear an Indy team with no Haliburton, and a giant gaping hole at the rim.
I was shocked twice as many of you (13) picked the Knicks than the Orlando Magic (6). You either really believe in Desmond Bane's value, or you really don't believe in Mike Brown's ability to change anything of significance in New York.
Section 2: The Predictive Cavs Questions
18.) In 2025-26, Donovan Mitchell is most likely to be:
Results: Last year, just 21.5% of early adopters said Donovan would garner 1st Team All-NBA honors. He delivered. This season, that number has increased to nearly 35%, but the majority of Cavs (59.7%) still predict that Donovan will be a 2nd Team selection this season.
My Take: Agree. 1st Team was close last season, as Donovan held off Anthony Edwards. But last year, Donovan's case was helped by the tremendous and unexpected offensive dominance of the Cavs. This year, that novelty won't go as far, and he'll not only have to hold off outside opponents, but Evan Mobley as well (who finished 9th in voting a season ago).
19.) In 2025-26, Evan Mobley is most likely to be:
Results: Evan's results are nearly identical to Donovan Mitchell, which should speak to the increased expectations in 2025-26. 30.8% of respondents (84) chose 1st Team, 55.7% chose 2nd Team (152) and just 3 voters expect Ev to get skunked.
My Take: I think 2nd team is likely for Evan Mobley. He has a window to really up the counting stats while Darius and Max are out. I'm a bit worried that Hunter is going to be somewhat of a points handcuff, as he's looked tremendous in the preseason, but it's hard to get to worked up over 2nd or 3rd team All-NBA. They're all basically the same after 1st Team in my book.
20.) In 2025-26, Darius Garland is most likely to be:
Results: The Cavs fan base thinks Darius will be on the outside looking in after awards are handed out. With his recovery expected to push into November, he's already going to be monitoring the 65-game rule, but whatever the rationale, 61.9% of respondents expect Darius to miss out. 6 brave souls have DG making 1st Team, which would be an incredible response to last year's playoff adversity.
My Take: Last year was a truly magical regular season for Darius. He was one of the most clutch performers in the NBA. He opened the season by emasculating the Knicks in MSG. But with the injury, and the added focus on shifting usage to Evan, I think DG is the odd Cav out.
21.) The 2025-26 Cavs will have how many all-stars:
Results: Nearly 60% of respondents believe the Cavs will only get two all-stars this year. 37.4% predicted three, and just 1 single entrant picked one (0.4%).
My Take: I think two is the logical answer, and I suspect it's Donovan and Mobley. Three is in play because Tatum, Lillard and Haliburton will not factor in this season. But Paolo, Franz, and Trae should all be in the discussion after missing out last year.
22.) Which Cavalier starter will log the most minutes in 2025-26:
Results: Evan Mobley was the choice (46.9%). garnering just under half of all votes. Donovan Mitchell came in second with 32.2% of the vote, while Darius Garland, last year's minutes leader (2301 minutes), received just 7 votes.
My Take: I think the Cavs need to make Evan the minutes leader. Protecting Donovan from himself makes all the sense in the world, but Evan needs reps running the offense. His on-ball development needs to nurtured if the Cavs want it to carryover in the Playoffs.
23.) Which Evan Mobley repeat as DPOY in 2025-26:
Results: Last guy out, lock the door! Nearly 90% of you said "no". 10.6% of you are brave and loyal Mobley-ites, who answered "yes".
My Take: Since 1983, when the award was created, there have been 9 repeat winners. The last was Rudy Gobert in 2018 and 2019. None of those players entered the season facing a contender with the odds Victor Wembanyama possesses at the time of this survey (He is a -190 to win). Even the most optimistic Cavs fans realize what Evan is up against.
24.) Will Evan Mobley make 1st Team All-Defense in 2025-26:
Results: It was a nearly unanimous and resounding "YES!". I could practically hear 97.4% of you screaming at your monitors as you clicked your answer. 7 of you voted "no", which I suspect involves some injury hedging
My Take: I'll keep this short and sweet. Evan will be 1st Team every year through his prime, barring an injury. He's an absolute unicorn defender.
25.) Predict Evan Mobley's scoring output in 2025-26:
Results: The sweet spot for respondents fell between 18.5 PPG and 20.4 PPG. More than 52% of votes (143 voters) landed in that range. 8 aggressive votes selected more than 23 points per game, and a healthy 16.5% of surveys (45 voters) said Evan will average 21 points per game.
My Take: I think I'd land between 20 and 21 points per game, so I'll round up. Give me 21. I'm buying the hype about Evan's increased aggression, and the only thing keeping him from scoring more in previous seasons was him forcing the issue.
26.) Predict Evan Mobley's usage rate in 2025-26:
Results: Cavs fans are feeling very optimistic, as 34.8% of them (95 voters) selected 24-26% as their most favored answer. 31.1% were slightly less aggressive, choosing 22-24%.
My Take: I'll say 22-24%. I expect an uptick from Evan's 22.6% usage rate last year. Originally, I was going to vote 24-26%, but when I looked to see what bigs fell in that range last season, there were only two. One was Alperen Sengun, and the other was Julius Randle.
I have a hard time imagining Evan dominating the ball in the same way those two do. Remember, usage means Evan ends the possession by getting a shot up, getting fouled, or turning it over. He's not nearly as selfish as those two. But it wouldn't be a shock.
27.) Will Jarrett Allen be a Cavalier on March 1st, 2026?
Results: Only 8.1% of you have gone to the dark side. The other 91.9% (251 noble Cavs fans) believe that Jarrett Allen will still be a part of this roster on March 1st, 2026.
My Take: I don't think he's going anywhere. I understand the frustrations with Jarrett Allen at times. He's passive, even more so, when he's not involved in the offense. But both our guards hugely benefit from having vertical rim threats, and 48 minutes of that gravity in Evan and Jarrett is valuable.
If that terrible day arrives where the Cavs are buckling under the weight of their own paychecks, could he be traded? Absolutely. Hunter may be allowed to walk as well. But as of today, I still believe Koby recognizes the extreme value of the Allen deal, and will use as much of it as Dan Gilbert allows.
28.) Which young guard plays a larger role for the Cavs in 2025-2026 (*measured in minutes*):
Results: Three-quarters of Cavs fans believe Craig Porter Jr. will have a larger role with this year's team than Tyrese Proctor. 213 fans cast their vote for CPJ, accounting for 78% of the vote.
My Take: I think that's a safe bet. In the early season, he'll see added opportunities as Darius recovers, but even at full strength, Lonzo's health precautions will allow for nights where Craig is needed. I also think Craig's tenure with Kenny will give him a slight edge.
After preseason, I do think the gap is smaller than I anticipated it to be, which is a credit to Proctor's pro-ready game.
29.) Which frontcourt member plays a larger role for Cavs in 2025-2026 (*measured in minutes*):
Results: Dean Wade is expected to edge out Larry Nance Jr. in a close vote. Dean received 57.9% of the vote (158 votes), where as Larry got 42.1% (115 votes)
My Take: I was surprised here. I too think we need Dean and his defense more than ever after the departure of Isaac, but I didn't expect the majority of you would agree.
While i love Larry, I typically view our backup center as Evan, and I expect Larry/Dean/De'Andre will be used somewhat interchangeably when rounding out "small ball" lineups. Larry is the better connective player, but Dean is the better defender, both on the perimeter and on the interior. I expect Kenny will often flank Hunter with the strongest defender he has available.
I also would assume some of these votes went to Dean solely for reasons of Larry's health, which could imply even more of a toss up.
30.) Predict the seed the Cavs finish at in the East:
Results: While every possible option was available to choose, the largest response was the 1-seed, where 68.9% of you expect a repeat of last year. 75 voters (27.5%) are betting on a slight regression to the 2-seed. 9 people voted for the 3-seed (3.3%), nobody voted for the 4-seed, and a single voter (0.4%) choose the 5-seed.
My Take: I predicted the 2-seed. Some of this is cynicism that comes with a crushing playoff loss ("nothing matters", "wake me up in June", etc) but I don't think the Cavs will have the same urgency to stack wins without a juggernaut like Boston putting pressure on them. All their best laid plans to safeguard the core unraveled in round two, so I'm open to the idea that this season will be more about process than results.
This Cavs team is certainly talented enough to build upon the success from last year, but given the historical individual years so many of our players had, and the relative health, I think the Knicks have more to prove in the regular season playing for a new head coach.
31.) Will the Cavs finish with more or less wins (64) than 2025-26?
Results: 228 of 273 voters chose "less", accounting for 83.3% of the respondents. 29 voters predicted "more", while 6.6% expect an identical finish.
My Take: I predict less. The Cavs finished with the 2nd best record in franchise history last year, which is an incredible feat given the amount of years Lebron James suited up for Cleveland. You could even make the argument they left a few wins on the table at the end of the year, when they had nothing left to play for.
I believe the focus in the regular season will be slightly different this year. The culture is firmly established with Kenny already, and now we need to "playoff proof" our offense. We can't go through another postseason of Donovan hero ball, unprepared for the wrinkles playoff-tested coaches will throw at the Cavs. This season should be used to develop and hone alternative attack options. If that means it costs the Cavs a few wins here and there, so be it.
32.) How many games will the Cavs win in 2025-26?
Results: Over half of the entries selected "56-60", accounting for 52% of the vote. The second most popular choice (32.2%) was "60-65" (which should have read 61-65, but I'm a moron). 41% of voters land north of 60 wins.
My Take: I think 56-60. Three 15-game win streaks was ridiculous. Any team, as evidenced by history, would be hard pressed to do that even just once. Kenny caught a lot of teams off guard last year. This year, I'm expecting to get everybody's best shot.
Cleveland was ridiculously healthy last year, with the entire "Core Four" eclipsing 70 games played, and Allen going all 82. Betting on a repeat of that seems foolish.
Section 3: The Subjective NBA Questions
33.) A year from now, which of these NBA transactions will be viewed most favorably?
Results: Denver's acquisition of Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr., and a future unprotected 1st was the winner, receiving 97 votes (35.7%). The Rockets trade for Kevin Durant placed second, with 65 votes (23.9%). Coming in last were the Bucks maneuvers, which included the waiving/stretching of Damian Lillard's massive contract in order to poach Myles Turner from the Pacers (8.5%).
My Take: I agree it's Cam. He's a much cheaper option than Michael Porter Jr., can provide a very similar role, and allowed the Nuggets to build out the bench.
Durant is incredible, and the trade package given for him was very uninspiring.
I hated the Bucks move, and I'm indifferent to anything that involves trusting Porzingis at this point, but he cost them a bag of doorknobs (sorry Georges), so it's low risk, high reward.
The only deal that I border on "hot take" territory with is Bane. He's a fine player, and a great shooter, but it's an all-in move if ever there was one for this Magic team. With Paolo's max, they're basically capped out, and pick poor now. People said the same about our Cavs when they made the Mitchell trade, so perhaps ole' party pump proves me wrong. It's entirely possible.
34.) The most overrated player in the NBA is:
Results: I can't give you a graph because I chose to let people write in their own answers, and your spelling is atrocious. It spiked my spreadsheet, but here's the top-5. All of these guys had substantially more votes than the other choices:
1.) LaMelo Ball (9.1%)
2.) Jayson Tatum (8.0%)
3.) Trae Young (7.6%)
4.) Jalen Brunson (6.1%)
5-tie.) Ja Morant/Draymond Green(4.5%)
2 of you (0.8%) voted Jarrett Allen. I know what you're doing. I won't be provoked.
My Take: I think it's Tatum. He has the individual accolades and the playoff pedigree. He's a great player. But he's simply a tier below the MVP mainstays for me, no matter how much Boston fans try to present him as light years ahead of Donovan.
No star in the league has benefited more reputationally from their team's overall strength than Tatum. I think that the league keeping LaMelo off the all-star roster speaks to the "hollow numbers" sentiment out there already. He's a worthy winner.
I'm proud of your votes. Every guy on that list is shameless gunner (outside of the backpack in Golden State). Good work was done here.
35.) Who is your most hated player in the NBA?
Results: Cleveland doesn't forget. Cleveland doesn't forgive. Draymond won this vote running away with 32% (82 votes). The next closest "enemy of the state" was Kevin Durant, whose 14 votes accounted for 5.5% of the panel.
After that, Joel Embiid (4.7%), Trae Young (4.7%), Dillon Brooks (4.3%), and Jayson Tatum (4.3%) round out the group that received greater than 4% of the votes.
My Take: It's Draymond. It will always be Draymond. He's nearly as insufferable off the court, as he is on the hardwood.
36.) Which NBA team had the best offseason?
Results: Four teams received significant amounts of votes. Those were Houston (66 votes - 25.8%), Denver (62 votes - 24.2%), Atlanta (50 votes - 19.5%), and Orlando (24 votes - 9.4%). Oklahoma City got a lot of credit for locking up it's title team core with extensions for both J-Dub and Chet. A couple drunks (2) voted for the Celtics, and Cleveland got a smattering of votes to garner 3.9%.
My Take: Denver. They went from a team looking like they were limited in their ability to put more talent around Jokic, to swapping out MPJ for Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Plus, last year's 1st-round pick, Daron Holmes II should return at some point this season to bolster the front line.
37.) Who will win NBA MVP in 2025-26?
Results: Nikola Jokic outpaced the rest of the options, receiving 103 votes (40.1%). In second, Luka Doncic received 72 votes (28.0%), and third place was last year's winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12.1%). There were nearly as many Wemby believers (11) as Giannis votes (14).
Donovan Mitchell received 7 votes, as the only Cavalier who was represented.
My Take: I would also pick Nikola Jokic. In my eyes, it's a four-man race at most, with those being Jokic, Luka, Shai, and Giannis. Jokic is so consistently incredible analytically, and my expectation is an even better season from Denver. I think he prevents Shai from repeating.
38.) Who will win Rookie of the Year in 2025-26?
Results: Cooper Flagg was a blowout winner. He got 218 votes, which represents 84.8% of the panel. Second place was the Philadelphia 76ers VJ Edgecombe, who came in at 5.8% (15 votes). Kon Knueppel, of the Hornets received 6 votes, and Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper round out the top-5 with 5 each.
My Take: Of course, the odds should be in Flagg's favor, but I'm going with Ace Bailey. A huge part of winning Rookie of the Year is opportunity, and scoring. Both of these will lean heavily in Bailey's favor on a Utah roster devoid of talent. He had a strong showing in preseason, and I'm even more optimistic that he can pull off the upset and shake the character questions that plagued him on draft night.
39.) Who will make the Finals from the Western Conference?
Results: Predictably, Oklahoma City was the choice of the Cavs fans. With 55.3% of the answers (142 votes), they were picked over Denver (31.1%), Houston (7.4%), and the Los Angeles Lakers (3.5%). The Timberwolves and Spurs received a handful of votes.
My Take: OKC cleared the hurdle last year, and they are playoff-tested. Also, they're allowed to play with a physicality that should make life difficult for even the giant frontline of Houston, or the all-world talent of Nikola Jokic. It's the boring pick, but I think the reign of OKC is in its infancy.
40.) Who will make the Finals from the Eastern Conference?
Results: Cleveland is going to the NBA Finals... according to Cleveland Cavaliers fans. 87.9% believe that the Cavs will return to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2017-18 season. New York received 24 votes (9.3%), with Orlando getting 3 votes, the Hawks getting 2 votes, and the Pistons receiving a lone vote.
My Take: Let 'em Know. It will be Cleveland. The Knicks are a tough squad, and could absolutely topple the Cavs, but I don't believe in their defense, and there is only so much you can do to hide KAT and Brunson, who are necessities on the other end. This Cleveland team is deep, talented, and can't possibly be more injured than the last two years in the playoffs, right?
41.) Who will win the NBA Finals in 2025-26?
Results: Cleveland is going to win the NBA Finals! 55.3% of you (142 votes) believe that, or you're manifesting with your vote The Thunder received 28% of the vote (72 votes), and the Nuggets got exactly half of that with 36 votes of their own.
My Take: I think OKC is too deep, too good at drawing fouls, and too physical to overcome. Indiana took them to 7, which admittedly cuts down my argument a bit, but after witnessing that carnage in person last January in OKC, I think the Cavs will find it very difficult to overcome the way that Dort and Caruso are allowed to manhandle our guards. Evan Mobley... you're our only hope.
42.) Who will have the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft?
Results: The Washington Wizards haven't had the top pick in the NBA draft since 2010, when they selected John Wall. Since that point, they have compiled over 1,000 losses, and in the last two seasons, they've failed to reach 20 wins. That suffering will be rewarded according to 21.4% of our voters. 50 of you (19.8%) selected the Utah Jazz to get the top spot, followed nearly evenly by Brooklyn and Charlotte.
There was a solid representation for the Atlanta Hawks, which might confuse some of you, but as the trade partners for the New Orleans Pelicans 2026 unprotected pick on draft night, the chaos agents amongst us (28 voters) are expecting a repeat of the Kyrie Irving scenario.
My Take: I'll join those of you who picked Atlanta. I think the Pelicans stink. I won't buy into skinny Zion until I see a full season of it, and while Fears showed glimpses in preseason, I have a hard time betting on a team which will rely heavily on Jordan Poole. The basketball gods need to punish Dumars for such a foolish trade.
43.) Who will be the 1st coach to be fired this season?
Results: Three names appeared again and again. Those were Doc Rivers (22.1%), Willie Green (21.3%), and Nick Nurse (13.7%). There were also quite a few Mike Brown votes (5.2%), and Ty Lue votes (3.6%).
One of you voted for James Borrego (not a head coach), one of you voted for Steve Clifford (a consultant in Phoenix) and one of you voted for Jacque Vaughn (an assistant at Kansas). You should be ashamed of yourselves.
My Take: Doc Rivers would be my choice. The Bucks have high expectations, which are basically entirely on the shoulders of Giannis. I have little faith putting duct tape on gaping holes in the boat will keep that ship afloat. Giannis is transcendent. That won't be enough to save Doc Rivers.
You did it! You made it to the end. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's survey. It really was a lot of fun to put together. I will announce the winner at the conclusion of the season. Be sure to spend the season with the Fear the 'Fro podcast, and if you enjoyed what we've compiled here, give me a 5-star review on Apple here, or on Spotify here.