Coverage before tonight's opener in Philadelphia centers on Jarrett Allen's right knee, Evan Mobley's value and whether this team has been written off. The facts back the depth worry most and the doubters least.
Will Jarrett Allen play tonight in Philadelphia?
Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com reported the Cavs could be without a key big man, and Fear The Sword flagged a starter added to the injury report. That is Allen. He went on the report October 21 with a right knee issue, and his projected return is today, so expect a game-time call. Sam Merrill was cleared the same day. Khalifa Diop is listed out, with Saturday's home game against the Nets as his target.
Is the Mobley criticism fair?
Jimmy Watkins of Cleveland.com wrote that the Cavs should stop gaslighting fans about Mobley, and King James Gospel argued the Mobley decision is under fresh scrutiny after Jaylen Brown's debut for Philadelphia. Here is the case against him: Mobley makes $50.1 million, the same as Donovan Mitchell, and shot 29.7 percent from three last season to go with 18.2 points and 9.0 boards. He is a good player on the top salary who still has no jumper. No trade report names him.
Are the Cavs one injury away from real trouble?
Cleveland.com's Wine and Gold Talk podcast asked exactly that, and the roster says yes. Nae'Qwan Tomlin's back keeps him out until a projected November 16 return, Diop is out and Allen is questionable. Behind Mobley, the healthy centers are Thomas Bryant and rookie Ernest Udeh Jr. Payroll sits at $209.0 million, above the tax line of $200.4 million, and the first-round picks from 2027 through 2029 are all swaps. Help has to come from the 17 players already here.
Has everyone written this team off?
Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com wrote that the Cavs are being treated as yesterday's news. Sands looked back at the Knicks celebrating on Cleveland's floor in the conference finals and argued this season could be different. King James Gospel said the Celtics' new reality should encourage Cleveland. Last season's 52-30 record and plus-4.1 net rating are not yesterday's news. Mitchell told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, as Hoops Rumors also relayed, "I don't ever want to wear another uniform."
How tough is the Philadelphia test?
Sands framed it as Embiid, LeBron and a revamped Sixers roster waiting for the Cavs, and the numbers back him up. Philadelphia is already 1-0, and Jaylen Brown put up 28.7 points a game last season next to Tyrese Maxey's 28.3. Cleveland has had eight days of rest, and its last preseason game was a 132-116 loss in Orlando. Philadelphia played two games in the past week.
Is Jarrett Allen playing in the Cavs' season opener against the 76ers?
It is a game-time call. Allen went on the injury report October 21 with a right knee issue, and his projected return is today, October 22.
Are the Cavs trying to trade Evan Mobley?
No report says so. Columnists at Cleveland.com and King James Gospel have questioned how the team talks about him and how it values him, but no trade report names him.
