The Cleveland Cavaliers trading Dennis Schröder to the Charlotte Hornets last week certainly looked like a setup deal. Well, now we know what the Cavaliers are setting up. According to ESPN, the Cavaliers are acquiring Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets.
They will send Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Cavaliers will send a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings to the Nuggets to complete the trade. Additionally, the Cavaliers will send Tre Mann, cash and a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers to the Washington Wizards for Cam Whitmore. The Wizards are sending Julian Reese to the Nuggets.
As part of the arrangement, Watson will sign a four-year, $88 million deal with Cleveland that includes a player option and a trade kicker. Peyton Watson (who agreed to a four-year, $88 million deal) 2031 first-round pick (via Cavaliers), 2032 second-round pick (via Kings), Julian Reese Tre Mann, 2027 second-round pick (via Clippers), cash considerations So, how did everyone fare in the trade? Let's grade it to find out.
The Cavaliers have essentially spent the entire decade looking for an athletic small forward who could shoot 3s and defend. Just think of all the resources they've poured into that exact archetype. A top-five pick on Isaac Okoro.
A big contract for Strus. A deadline deal for De'Andre Hunter. Smaller investments in players like Dean Wade and Georges Niang.
This has been their white whale during the Donovan Mitchell era. Watson represents their biggest swing yet. A year ago, a trade and contract like this would have been crazy.
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