What is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best starting lineup w/ Darius Garland & Max Strus out w/ injuries?
The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the 2025-26 season shorthanded, with both Darius Garland and Max Strus out long-term due to surgery. That puts Kenny Atkinson in the hot seat to reconfigure this lineup and keep the Cavs competing in a brutal Eastern Conference. The front office has responded by bringing in Sam Merrill on a four-year deal to shore up shooting and stability in the backcourt while the injured stars recover.
Donovan Mitchell steps back into the team’s primary playmaking role, leading the offense in the absence of Garland. Alongside Mitchell, Sam Merrill offers spacing, spot creation, and reliable ball-handling, while De’Andre Hunter is expected to fill Strus’ spot on the wing. In the frontcourt, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen remain cornerstones—anchoring the defense, protecting the rim, and battling on the boards.
This starting five—Mitchell, Merrill, Hunter, Mobley, Allen—gives Cleveland a balanced mix of scoring, defense, and interior presence, but also puts pressure on the role players to deliver. Assistants like Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro will need to elevate their contributions. With Atkinson at the helm, known for player development and schematic tweaks, this will be a test of depth, resilience, and how quickly this adjusted core can gel without Garland & Strus.
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2 Comments
JT at the 1 or 2? Point forward essentially, or oversized PG. Use Garland's absence to give Tyson a shot to prove he needs more time on the floor. Hunter at the 3 all day.
Let Tyson start in back court. Tall backcourt and front court