Portland Fire hire Alex Sarama as franchise's first coach, signaling a CLA-driven rebuild. The English coach, formerly with the Cavaliers and Rip City Remix, helped Cleveland surge to 64 wins through evidence-based, constraint-led practice design. With Toronto Tempo entering the league and an expansion draft looming, Portland reshapes its front office—Hamill interim president, Černivec GM, Battle VP—for a bold WNBA expansion era.

Cavaliers throttle Pistons in preseason, flashing a stifling defensive identity as they roll to their first win. Mobley anchors the paint with three blocks and two steals, Mitchell shines offensively with 17 points and trio of steals, and Allen adds 15 as Cleveland clamped Detroit. Lonzo Ball impressed off the bench with three blocks, signaling a cohesive defensive fit in Cleveland. The result hints at a top-tier D again in 2025-26, ahead of Opening Night vs New York.

With Ball replacing Ty Jerome and a strengthening defensive backbone, Cleveland’s depth looks ready to support a repeat of elite rim protection and disruptive play. The early test comes on Oct. 22 at MSG against the Knicks, a potential East showdown that could set the tone for the Cavs’ regular-season trajectory.

NBA opening week spotlight centers on Victor Wembanyama’s healthy return and Zion Williamson’s best conditioning in years, with LeBron James sidelined early for the Lakers and Kyrie Irving ramping up for Dallas. Injury updates ripple across the league: Embiid’s knee uncertainty, Garland’s early absence, Morant’s ankle risk, and the evolving workloads for Porzingis, Ball, and Markkanen. Fantasy managers should prep for early heat checks, rotation shuffles, and opportunistic adds as stars scale into the season.

The Cavaliers are betting on Craig Porter Jr. to grow into a bigger role as the 2025-26 rotation develops. After a grueling summer focused on conditioning and perimeter shooting, Porter delivered in the preseason with a 5-for-5 showing from long range, signaling he can handle higher-stakes possessions if Garland misses time early. Cleveland reshaped its guard depth this offseason—Ty Jerome departed, Lonzo Ball arrived, Sam Merrill was re-signed, and Jaylon Tyson is entering his second year—yet Porter’s improved stamina and 3-point threat could push him into meaningful backup minutes behind a crowded backcourt.

Porter’s conditioning upgrade was hailed by coach Kenny Atkinson, who noted he rose to the 90th percentile of conditioning. The Cavs will lean on Porter as a ball-handler in spurts during high-pressure sequences, while his progress as a catch-and-shoot option will determine his floor. If the streaky shooting holds, and his defense holds steady, Porter could push into double-digit minutes sooner than anticipated as Cleveland navigates early-season absences and the Pacers’ pressure-forward style.