Cavs Gain Peyton Watson, Say Goodbye to Max Strus in Trade
Watson will sign a four-year, $88 million contract as Cleveland adds wing depth and Denver gains future draft picks.
- On Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired forward Peyton Watson in a five-team sign-and-trade agreement, signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract.
- Watson spent his first four seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged career highs of 14.6 points on 49.1% shooting during the 2025-26 season before a hamstring injury cut short his year.
- Cleveland sent small forward Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers and acquired Cam Whitmore, while trading an unprotected 2031 first-round pick to Denver and a 2032 second-rounder to Washington.
- The move hard-caps Cleveland at the first apron, leaving the franchise roughly $29M below that threshold as officials finalize plans to re-sign former MVP James Harden.
- Coach Kenny Atkinson plans to deploy Watson alongside Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, potentially creating one of the NBA's best starting lineups for next season.
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11 Articles
Peyton Watson lands with a surprise team in free agency
Nov 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Peyton Watson saga is officially over. The restricted free agent forward Watson is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Wednesday. Watson is making the move as part of a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets (his previous team), th…
Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineup After Peyton Watson Trade
The Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup could be one of the best in the NBA after they made a huge trade for small forward Peyton Watson. The post Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineup After Peyton Watson Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
3-team deal sends Watson to Cavs, Strus to Clips
The Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers have agreed on a trade that will send Peyton Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles, sources told ESPN. Watson will sign a new four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavs, his agents said.
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