The Cavaliers are still hunting for the wing help they’ve needed all offseason, and Jonathan Kuminga has emerged as one of the names sitting right in the middle of that search.
Cleveland has already made moves to build the flexibility required for a deal, and the interest in the former Warriors champion has been real enough that the two sides met as they explored a possible partnership. NBA reporter Evan Sidery noted that “The Cavaliers will meet with Jonathan Kuminga about working towards finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon, per Chris Fedor.
Cleveland is a main finalist for Kuminga's services alongside the Lakers. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
But the path isn’t exactly clean. The Cavaliers have also been weighing Kuminga against Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson as they sort through who they want to install as their starting wing.
Sam Vecenie of The Game Theory Podcast described Cleveland’s spot in that process this way: “I also wonder if he's kind of in the Peyton Watson limbo at the moment where Peyton Watson is higher in the hierarchy than he is. And these teams like Cleveland and Milwaukee are trying to figure out: 'Hey, do we want Peyton Watson or not?'
And they're waiting to see if they get Peyton Watson, and if not, maybe Cleveland goes for Jonathan Kuminga in a sign-and-trade of sorts,” Sam Vecenie of The Game Theory Podcast said.
One possible route to Kuminga would bring more than just one new face. NBA writer Jake Weinbach floated a three-team framework that would send Kuminga to Cleveland, Kris Murray to the Cavaliers as well, Max Strus to the Memphis Grizzlies, and a 2032 second-round pick from Sacramento via Cleveland to the Atlanta Hawks. In Weinbach’s version, Atlanta would also receive a large trade exception for helping complete the sign-and-trade.
That kind of deal would give Cleveland the starting wing it has been chasing, while also adding a young piece in Murray. It would also move Strus’ contract, something the organization has reportedly been trying to do.
If the Cavaliers land Kuminga, they’d be adding another high-end talent to a team already built to contend. And with that kind of upgrade, Cleveland could put itself in position for an even deeper playoff run in the Eastern Conference.
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Cavaliers Are Closing In On Peyton Watson With One Big Obstacle Left
Clevelands offseason wing search has taken another turn, with the front office reshuffling pieces in a move that sent Dennis Schrder and cash to Charlotte for Tre Mann. The swap fits into the Cavaliers broader effort to work out a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson, a younger wing who has moved to the front of their wishlist as they continue to look for ways to strengthen the roster around their core.
Peyton Watson is now the preferred target after Clevelands pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga became more complicated, but there is still work left before anything can be finalized. The biggest issue now is finding a trade partner willing to absorb Max Strus contract, and until that gets solved, the rest of the Watson framework remains stuck in place. [Read more 🡒]