ESPN has revealed its yearly rankings for the players in the league for the upcoming 2025-2026 NBA season. Compiled by a panel of 150 experts, this list features a consensus ranking on the players’ predicted contribution for the upcoming season. Just like last year, the same four players from the Cleveland Cavaliers have appeared on the list again, albeit now with significant changes.
Four Cavs Appear Within ESPN’s NBA Top 100
After a successful first season under Kenny Atkinson, finishing 64-18 and topping the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016, four Cavaliers—Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley—made the cut for ESPN’s Top 100, with an increase in each of their rankings.
No.45 – Jarrett Allen (2024 rank: 73)
Allen saw new lows for his Cleveland stint last season in terms of minutes played (28.0 per game), field goals attempted (7.8 per game), rebounds (9.7 per game), and usage percentage (15.9%). Despite this, he has seen a 28-spot increase in his ranking. He has shone despite the drop in his stats, leading the league in field goal percentage (70.6%) and becoming the first player in league history to average both 70% from the field and the free-throw line (71.8%). On the defensive side, he remains one of the premier rim protectors in the league and has continued to have one of the strongest twin-tower walls along with Mobley.
Despite a fantastic regular season, however, conversations around his fit on this team will remain. Allen struggled in the series against the Pacers, being weak on the boards with eight offensive rebounds all series and proving to be a negative on offense when Mobley struggled with his handle. The whispers of a trade involving Allen will continue, and he will need to find a new gear in the postseason to shut them out.
ESPN’s fantasy projection: 14.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.0 BPG
No.38 – Darius Garland (2024 rank: 57)
After doubts over his fit with Mitchell and on the verge of being traded, Garland is flourishing under Atkinson, returning to the All-Star Game after a two-year absence. Averaging 20.6 points and 6.5 assists per game, he had a career high in both three pointers made and attempted (2.8 and 7.1 per game, respectively) and a career low in turnovers (2.5 per game). These stats highlight the guard’s transformation from a on-ball creator to an off-ball shooter in this new system, and they have been key to the historic Cavs’ offense.
It was a sour end to the season for Garland, however, aggravating a toe injury in the first round against the Heat, missing the first two games against the Pacers, and struggling to make an impact upon return. Injury issues and defensive fit alongside Mitchell, will always be a topic of discussion with Garland. With toe surgery possibly keeping him out for the first 10-15 games of the season, expect these conversations to continue.
ESPN’s fantasy projection: 20.4 PPG, 6.8 APG, 1.2 SPG
No.15 – Donovan Mitchell (2024 rank: 17)
A two-spot rise for Mitchell as he breaks into the top-15 after the first All-NBA first-team selection in his career. He achieves this despite his lowest scoring season since his sophomore season (24.0 PPG). His recent stats may not support the notion that he has improved. But watching the team play will clearly reveal that he’s been the shining veteran presence and leader who has powered this team to such a grand win total. The fact is the Cavs improve whenever Mitchell is on the floor, and his +11.5 on-court plus-minus supports that statement.
Fifteenth on the list for someone who finished fifth in MVP voting does seem harsh, but conversations point out that he is still unable to take his team past the second round. When the Pacers had the Cavs on the ropes, Mitchell reverted to a “hero-ball” mentality, and while the effort was commendable—scoring 34.2 PPG in the series—he would go on to shoot the team out of the game and the season, finishing the series 11-36 from the field in the last two games. There’s doubt that Spida will ever beat the challenge of making a conference final, but if there’s anyone who welcomes that, it’s Mitchell himself.
ESPN’s fantasy projection: 24.6 PPG, 5.0 APG, 1.4 SPG
No.13 Evan Mobley (2024 rank: 47)
For the first time since he was drafted third overall by the team four years ago, you can finally go into this season saying these are Evan Mobley’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Obviously, it’s Mitchell who got the nod with the award voters and is the team’s first option, but it’s through Mobley that Atkinson and President Koby Altman foresaw the 60-win contender that they are now. With career highs in points (18.5 per game), field goals attempted (12.8 per game), and usage percentage (23.2%), Atkinson has given Mobley the freedom to handle the ball and push the pace in transition, which was the biggest key to the Cavs being the best offense this season. Added with his elite versatility and rim protection on defense, he deservedly obtained his first All-Star and All-NBA nod, followed by his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
If Mobley ever wants to rise in the yearly rankings, however, he must continue to improve his offensive game. Mobley’s handle has been massive in his improvement, but the ability to shoot and create for himself and others must sprout now if he wants to enter the realm of MVP contention. His lack of an offensive skill set and aggressive mentality were evident as he seemed powerless to exploit the Pacers’ offense in the playoffs. His improvement in the half-court going forward will signify major progress for any further development in his career.
ESPN’s fantasy projection: 18.0 PTS, 9.3 REB, 1.6 BLK
The Last Word
The Cleveland representation in these rankings highlights how the Cavs are now widely known as one of the prominent threats to the championship going into this season. The argument is that there could be even more, with the likes of De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus ruing their omissions from this list. However, it is also true that there are also more question marks on this team than any other franchise, and success in the regular and postseason is not only desired, but also demanded.
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