The Cavaliers’ offseason has drifted into a waiting game, and the two names hanging over everything are Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson.
According to John Hobbs of Cavaliers On SI, Cleveland’s interest in both restricted free agents has slowed down the rest of its summer business, including the expected re-signing of James Harden. Harden still wants to stay with the Cavs, but he has given the team some breathing room while it continues sorting out the roster.
That’s where the Kuminga and Watson pursuits come in. Both would likely need sign-and-trade deals, and Cleveland has been connected to each of them all offseason. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said on NBA Today that the Cavs are still “poking around” on Watson, and that may help explain why Harden has remained patient.
The challenge is the cost. Watson may be the tougher swing, with the Nuggets still believed to value him strongly.
Hobbs noted that Denver would be expected to ask for at least one first-round pick in any Watson deal. Kuminga could be the more realistic target, but his next contract is part of the equation as well.
So for now, Cleveland is stuck in limbo. The team missed on LeBron James, added Mario Hezonja, and still has Harden’s return sitting there as the next major piece of business.
Charlotte has a different problem: too many bodies and not enough roster spots.
Owen O’Connor of Hornets On SI pointed out that the Hornets currently have 17 players on standard contracts and must get down to 15 before the regular season. That’s not a simple trim after an offseason that reshaped the roster around Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Coby White. Charlotte moved on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, then brought in veterans like Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Naz Reid.
Three names to watch are Tre Mann, Dorian Finney-Smith and Pat Connaughton.
Mann stands out the most. Before a back injury threw him off course, he looked like a possible long-term sixth man in Charlotte. Last season didn’t go well, but the Hornets also aren’t exactly loaded with ball-handlers.
Finney-Smith could be tougher to move because of the money attached to him. Charlotte got him from Houston along with second-round picks, and he is still owed more than $40 million over the final three years of his contract.
Connaughton might be the cleanest financial choice. He is entering the final year of a deal that pays $3.8 million, though he did make the roster last season after coming into camp as no lock.
The Hornets have depth. Now they have to figure out which pieces actually fit.
Elsewhere, Derrick Williams is keeping his career alive overseas. The former No. 2 overall pick has signed with the Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korea, according to Dario Skerletic of Sportando, who relayed the team’s announcement.
Williams, 35, last appeared in the NBA in the 2017-18 season with the Lakers. Over 428 NBA games with the Timberwolves, Kings, Knicks, Heat, Cavaliers and Lakers, he averaged 8.9 points and 4.0 rebounds.
He has continued playing internationally since then, with stops in China, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Israel, Greece, Puerto Rico and Korea. Last season, he played for Suwon KT Sonicboom, so this will be his second straight year in South Korea.
In Other News...
Hornets Veterans Suddenly Caught In Charlottes Offseason Roster Squeeze
Charlottes offseason picture is already crowded, and the pressure points are becoming clearer with 17 players under contract as the Hornets map out the road to next season. The recent additions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce ONeale only add to the logjam on the wing and at forward, tightening the minutes available for veterans who were already fighting to carve out a consistent role.
Among the players most affected by that squeeze are Dennis Schrder and Pat Connaughton, whose situations now look especially precarious as the roster gets trimmed to the required number before the 2026-27 season. For Charlotte, the decision is less about reputation than fit and opportunity, and the front office now has to decide which pieces best match the rotation it is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]
Charles Lee Just Raised Expectations For Charlottes New-Look Roster
Charles Lee is not shying away from the idea that Charlottes offseason changed the tone around the franchise. The Hornets coach has been upbeat about the roster makeover, pointing to the addition of Coby White and a deeper supporting cast that now includes Dennis Schrder, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, Grant Williams and Hannes Steinbach. With LaMelo Ball no longer in the picture, the challenge is obvious, but Lees confidence suggests the internal bar is higher than simply staying afloat in the East.
The bigger question is whether that confidence can translate into something more than optimism in a crowded conference. Charlotte has clearly tried to raise its floor and give Lee more usable pieces, especially off the bench, but the skepticism around a top-six finish is still real. Even so, the Hornets are starting to sound like a team that believes it can make noise sooner than expected, which is exactly the sort of shift that gets attention in a market looking for a breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]