Free agency has been a frustrating stretch for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Dennis Schröder trade with the Charlotte Hornets changed the math in a big way. By opening up more than $30 million in room below the first apron, Cleveland suddenly has a more workable path to add a wing - and Jonathan Kuminga looks like the cleaner swing.
The Cavaliers had already been linked to both Kuminga and Peyton Watson as they searched for size and versatility on the wing. But Watson has become the messier target by far.
Denver is stuck in the second apron and can’t send Watson out in a sign-and-trade unless the deal gets the Nuggets below that line. Cleveland, meanwhile, is still above the tax threshold, which means it would have to send salary out in any Watson pursuit.
That only gets harder because Denver can’t take back much, if any, money.
Unless the Nuggets find a team willing to take on Zeke Nnaji’s salary, the Watson path is starting to disappear. Even then, possible landing spots such as the Milwaukee Bucks may not want to absorb that contract while also chasing Watson themselves.
That leaves Kuminga, and he’s the more straightforward target for Cleveland anyway. The Cavaliers have been connected to him since the start of free agency, and the groundwork for a move is already there.
Kuminga’s name has carried baggage, mostly because of the friction that defined parts of his time with the Golden State Warriors. He was supposed to be part of the franchise’s future after the Warriors’ 2022 NBA Finals title, but his growth stalled in a system that never quite fit and amid clashing egos between him and the coaching staff. Drafted seventh overall in 2021, he was quickly treated like a future star, only for that promise to fade into disappointment.
Still, the talent is obvious. In 16 games with the Atlanta Hawks last season after a trade from Golden State, Kuminga averaged 12.3 pionts, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game off the bench. His athleticism and physicality showed up in flashes, and so did the kind of upside that keeps teams interested.
Unlike Watson, Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent, which gives him full control of where he lands. If a sign-and-trade with Atlanta doesn’t come together, Cleveland can still bring him in with the $6 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception. A short-term deal at that price would also give the Cavaliers Early Bird Rights for a future contract at a higher number.
That’s why Kuminga makes so much sense for Cleveland. The price would stay manageable, the roster flexibility would remain intact for a new James Harden deal and other moves later on, and the fit on the floor is easy to picture.
The Cavaliers need help at forward, and Kuminga’s athleticism and defensive ability give them a moldable piece with room to grow. He has also shown enough shooting touch to suggest there’s more to build on.
Kenny Atkinson’s reputation for player development only strengthens the case. If there’s a coach who can help turn a talented but uneven forward into a real weapon, the Cavaliers believe they have one in place.
If Cleveland wants to take a swing this offseason, Kuminga may be the best one available. And if the Cavaliers can turn the Warriors’ disappointment into their own gain, that would be a bonus all by itself.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Have Just Opened The Door To A Bigger Wing Move
The Cavaliers agreement to send Dennis Schrder to Charlotte for Tre Mann is more than a simple backcourt swap. It trims their salary commitments and gives Cleveland a little more breathing room as it continues to shape the roster around its core, with the front office still working on ways to make the wing rotation more functional and more flexible.
Max Strus is also part of the moving pieces, with Cleveland reportedly exploring a trade for him, and the broader framework around these talks has already started to draw attention across the league. A four-team concept involving the Cavaliers, Nuggets, Clippers and Hornets has been floated, and while nothing is finalized, the kind of deal being discussed suggests Cleveland may be positioning itself for a bigger swing on the wing than the initial Schrder move would indicate. [Read more 🡒]
Dennis Schroder Opens Up On Cavaliers Backcourt Squeeze
When the Cavaliers brought in Dennis Schroder, the fit looked straightforward enough: a proven backup point guard added to stabilize the backcourt behind Donovan Mitchell, before Cleveland later reshaped the position again by trading Darius Garland for James Harden in early 2026. Schroder still found himself in a crowded rotation, working behind Mitchell and Harden, even as he continued to serve the kind of steady reserve role that has defined much of his NBA career.
Schroder has since moved on in the 2026 offseason, leaving Cleveland for the Charlotte Hornets and a chance to compete for a bigger role under coach Charles Lee. For the Cavs, it is another reminder of how quickly the backcourt picture changed around him, and how difficult it became for a reliable veteran guard to carve out a path with so much established usage already spoken for. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Offseason Suddenly Hinges On One Trade They Need Done
After spending much of the offseason circling Jonathan Kuminga, the Cavaliers have pivoted to a different wing target as the market and the money have pushed them in another direction. Peyton Watson has emerged as the name to watch, and Cleveland is now in sign-and-trade talks with the Denver Nuggets as it looks for a way to add the kind of starting-caliber wing it has been hunting.
The obstacle is the cap sheet, which means this is about more than just identifying the right player. Cleveland is trying to clear space by moving Max Strus and Dennis Schrder as part of the broader framework, and the outcome could shape more than one roster decision as the front office tries to keep its offseason plans from getting stuck in place. [Read more 🡒]