Season in Review: The Guards

OK, raise your hand if you guessed that the Cavaliers backcourt – that began the season with Darius Garland and Lonzo Ball – would end the year with James Harden, Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis … 

If you did, call your stockbroker immediately. If not, you were like the rest of us on this wild ride in 2025-26 – a season that saw Cleveland use 41 different starting lineups, including some serious shakeups in the guard rotation. 

As the NBA Finals rolls on with the series shifting to New York this week, Cavs.com takes a look back at the previous year positionally before turning our attention the 2026 Draft on June 23 – with Cleveland holding pick No. 29. 

Today, we start with the backcourt … 

DONOVAN MITCHELL

The Cavaliers rock, once again, was Donovan Mitchell, who appeared in a team-high 70 games, his second straight year of 70-plus. Now a seven-time All-Star and coming off consecutive All-NBA nods, Mitchell has been everything and more since the Wine & Gold traded for him back in September 2022. He’s the face of the franchise. 

On the season, the 9^th-year man from Louisville averaged 27.9 PPG – 7^th-best mark in the NBA – shot 48 percent from the floor, 36 percent from three-point range, 5.7 APG, and 1.49 APG – good for 14^th in the league. His 224 three-pointers were 10^th-most. 

He posted 34 games with at least 30 points – (now 105 in his Cavs career) – including six of 40-plus. In his season-best 48-point eruption against the Wizards, Mitchell scored half of those points in the fourth quarter. 

But stats aside, Mitchell was simply the Cavaliers guiding light in a strange season that had the Cavaliers gasping for air just above the .500 mark in early December before hitting their stride at the start of the new year. Mitchell fit seamlessly with James Harden after starting the season alongside Darius Garland, who played in 26 games before being dealt to L.A. 

The New York native also led the Cavs in the postseason, averaging 26.0 PPG, with six 30-point games in the mix. His nine straight games of scoring at least 30 points in a series opener is the best mark in league history, and his 27.8 PPG scoring average is 7^th-best. In his 43-point explosion against Detroit in Game 4 of the East Semis, he tied an NBA playoff record for points (39) in a half. 

In a game when the rest of the team was physically and emotionally cooked – Game 4 of the ECF against the Knicks – Mitchell led both teams with 31 points, going 9-for-18 from the floor, 5-of-9 from deep and 8-of-10 from the stripe. 

JAMES HARDEN

When the Cavs swung for the fences at the Deadline, trading the squad’s most tenured player and original member of the “core four” for James Harden, the new union hit the ground running – with Cleveland winning five straight and going 19-7 down the regular season stretch. 

Harden brought a Hall of Fame resume to Rocket Arena, an 11-time All-Star in his 17^th NBA season. The 2018 NBA MVP, Harden is a three-time scoring champ and six-time All-NBA First Team selection. In NBA history, he ranks in the top 10 in points (29,339, 9^th), three-pointers made (3,390, 2^nd), made free throws (8,627, 3^rd) and triple-doubles (82, 8^th). He’s in the all-time top 5 in 40-point games, 50-point games and 60-point games. 

Harden didn’t have to post massive numbers for the Cavaliers to be successful. He still scored the ball well as a Cavalier – averaging 20.5 PPG during those 26 games with Cleveland – but more importantly, led the team in assists in 19 of those games. 

This spring, Harden became the fifth player in NBA history to appear in the playoffs in 17 straight seasons, and ranks in the league’s all-time top 10 postseason rankings in assists, three-pointers and free throws made. 

Harden was solid in the postseason with Cleveland year, averaging 19.2 PPG. His 99 assists led the Cavaliers, but he also struggled with turnovers over the 18-game stretch, finishing with 84. 

SAM MERRILL 

After inking an offseason extension, Sam Merrill had his best season as a pro in 2025-26 – and he started the year with a bang – breaking the franchise record with 18 triples through his first four games. 

Overall, Merrill – the last overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft – averaged a career-best 12.8 PPG on .421 shooting from long-range, good for 11^th-best mark in the league. He canned at least four triples on 21 occasions this year, including five straight games to start the calendar year. 

In a February 11 home win over Washington, the former Utah State standout tied a career-high with nine three-pointers, finishing with a career-best 32 points – going 10-of-11 from the floor, 9-of-10 from deep. 

In the playoffs, Merrill connected on 37 percent of his three-point attempts, notching double-figure scoring on five occasions, including a 23-point outburst off the bench in Game 7 against Detroit.

DENNIS SCHRÖDER

When the Cavaliers pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire Dennis Schröder – along with Keon Ellis in exchange for De’Andre Hunter – they were looking to add toughness and experience. And with the 13^th-year vet from Germany, they got exactly that over the season’s homestretch. 

The pugnacious point guard, who’s suited up for at least 60 games in each of his last dozen seasons – played in 30 for the Cavs, winning his first six games in a Cleveland uniform and averaging 8.2 PPG overall. The Cavs were 21-9 with Schroder in the lineup. 

KEON ELLIS

Keon Ellis was just as good in his time after arriving along with Schröder in the three-team Deadline deal. 

The 4^th-year man from Alabama averaged 8.3 PPG on 49 percent shooting, drilling multiple three-pointers 10 times and netting double-figures on nine occasions. 

But Ellis’ calling card is defense, and the SEC All-Defensive team performer finished with 10 outings as a Cavalier with multiple steals, including three games with three picks. He blocked at least one shot in 16 games, including a career-best five-swat performance in a March 1 win over the Nets.

CRAIG PORTER JR. 

In his third season with the Cavaliers, Craig Porter Jr. logged a career-best 64 appearances with the Wine & Gold, although the versatile guard from Wichita State didn’t get much of run in the postseason. 

Overall, Porter averaged 4.5 PPG, shooting 45 percent from the floor, 36 percent from long-range. But Porter’s true value comes from his ability to do it all, and he had some historic performances illustrating that point. 

In a November win over the Heat, Porter became the first player in Cavs history to record at least 19 points, nine assists, three steals and four blocks in a single game. In a February win over Blazers, he became the first player in league history to tally at least 12 assists, five steals and two blocked shots off the bench. 

TYRESE PROCTOR

Right from Training Camp in Bradenton, FL, it was apparent that Tyrese Proctor “belonged” among his NBA peers. And he proved it as the season progressed, earning Kenny Atkinson’s trust and appearing in 50 games as a rookie. 

With the Wine & Gold dealing with injuries early in the season, Proctor earned minutes in the rotation and was solid on both ends. The 49^th overall pick out of 2025 out of Duke, he finished with 11 double-figure outings –including a 22-point, 11-rebound, 8-assist night in the season finale. 

Overall, Proctor shot 36 percent from long-range, with 14 games drilling multiple three-pointers.