Cleveland’s search for wing help has put two 23-year-olds on the board, but Cavs fans made their preference pretty clear: Peyton Watson is the guy they’d rather see in wine and gold.
In a recent SB Nation Reacts survey, Watson drew more than 85% of the vote, while Jonathan Kuminga picked up just 14%. That lines up with the way the two players are being viewed right now, too.
Watson is coming off a career-best season and looked sharper in every area that matters. His efficiency improved, his shot from deep became a real weapon, and he’s starting to look like the kind of 3-and-D wing teams spend years trying to find. The upside is obvious, but so is the progress he’s already made.
Kuminga’s case is more complicated. He still hasn’t proven he can be a reliable three-point shooter, and he hasn’t settled into a true fit with either team he’s played for so far.
The Golden State Warriors didn’t want to play him, and the Atlanta Hawks don’t want to pay him. Maybe both teams are selling him short.
Either way, the burden is on Kuminga to shift that story.
Cleveland is still in the mix for both players. The Nuggets want to stay below the second apron, which makes Watson tougher for the Cavs to land in a trade. Kuminga appears to be the more available option.
Either way, the fit in Cleveland makes sense. The Cavs have been chasing athleticism and length at small forward for years, and adding one of these wings would address that need while nudging them up from 10th on FanDuel’s championship odds.
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Cavs Starting Five Looks Real But One Spot Still Feels Unsettled
The Cavaliers projected first five looks strong on paper, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen giving the roster plenty of size, scoring and experience if Harden is back on a new contract. But after an offseason that saw Cleveland lose several players and add Mario Hezonja, there is still some real sorting to do before opening night, especially on the wing where the team is trying to settle its rotation.
Small forward remains the clearest unfinished piece of the puzzle, and the Cavaliers are still working through their options there as the roster takes shape. There is also ongoing movement talk around the edges of the teams plans, with sign-and-trade possibilities and interest in other young forwards still part of the conversation, so the final version of this group may not be the one that heads into camp. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Enter Tough Race For A Proven Scorer They Could Need
The veteran scoring market got more interesting after Sacramento moved on from DeMar DeRozan, putting one of the leagues most proven perimeter options suddenly within reach. For a Cavaliers team always looking to sharpen its half-court offense and add a dependable shot-maker, the chance to get into that conversation is the kind of development front offices monitor quickly, especially with multiple contenders already checking in.
Cleveland is among the teams showing interest, but this is shaping up as a crowded chase, with Denver, Miami and Washington also in the mix. The Heat have been viewed as a leading candidate, which gives the Cavaliers plenty of reason to weigh how aggressive they want to be if they hope to land a scorer who is widely expected to be on a new team for the upcoming season. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love Could Deepen The Cavs Sting From LeBrons Latest Move
Kevin Loves next move is still up in the air, but the possibility of him landing in Philadelphia is enough to keep Cavaliers fans watching closely. ESPNs Dave McMenamin reported that Love is interested in joining the 76ers, a team that suddenly has even more national attention after LeBron James signed there recently. Love, who spent last season with the Utah Jazz, is weighing his options as he looks for the right fit for the next phase of his career.
The Sixers, though, may not have an easy path to making it happen. Philadelphias roster situation could complicate any pursuit, even with Love said to be on the teams radar, and there is still no deal in place. For Cleveland, the storyline is less about a direct move and more about the uncomfortable reminder of how closely Loves career remains tied to the LeBron orbit. [Read more 🡒]