Donovan Mitchell Ranks This Cavs Team Among His Top Two Ever

The Cavaliers enter the 2026 postseason with newfound confidence after a rocky regular season and a major midseason change. Cleveland was once 17-16 and dealing with injuries and inconsistent play. A harsh playoff exit to Indiana last year still lingered in fans’ minds.

James Harden’s arrival and immediate impact

The trade deadline acquisition of James Harden shifted Cleveland’s trajectory. Filmogaz.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor said Harden raised belief across the roster.

Fedor argued the team has become the NBA’s best clutch offensive unit since Harden arrived. That added late-game poise contrasts with last season’s collapse against the Pacers.

How the roster changed

Harden’s playmaking and gravity created new space for teammates. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have benefited noticeably from those changes.

Fedor described a new ability to “generate quality offense consistently.” The offense now looks more cohesive when execution matters most.

Donovan Mitchell’s perspective

On the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Donovan Mitchell offered a striking assessment. He said he ranks this Cavs roster among the top two teams he has played on.

Mitchell’s background includes a COVID-shortened Utah Jazz season that won 52 games. He also played on last year’s Cavaliers team that finished with 64 regular-season wins.

Context from the media and staff

Host Ethan Sands added that the turnaround was planned. Conditioning, preparation, and a playoff ramp-up were part of the staff’s blueprint.

Kenny Atkinson and his coaching staff built toward this moment all season. Harden’s arrival was described as the final piece that snapped the plan into place.

Remaining concerns and postseason outlook

The Cavaliers still have flaws. The regular season was uneven and their defense has been inconsistent.

Questions remain about the team’s ability to win multiple postseason rounds against elite opponents. Still, the Cavs now walk into the playoffs with genuine, earned confidence.

The season is over and previews are set. For the first time in years, Cleveland believes it is among the NBA’s best teams.