The Cleveland Cavaliers still have work to do, and August gives them a window to keep shaping the roster before training camp starts on September 29.
They have already brought Donovan Mitchell back, added wing Mario Hezonja and are in advanced talks with James Harden on a new deal. Even with those moves on the board, there is still room for Cleveland to chase more help as it tries to take another step after last season’s Eastern Conference finals exit to the eventual champion New York Knicks.
One area that stands out is small forward, a spot Cleveland has often had to patch together with players who were either undersized or playing out of position. DeMar DeRozan, who was waived by the Sacramento Kings last month, would fit that need.
He is still producing, too. In his second season with the Kings, he averaged 18.4 points and continued to lean on a sharp midrange game and a quick first step that still lets him get downhill and finish at the rim.
If Cleveland wants another proven scorer on the wing, DeRozan makes sense. The Cavaliers’ place in a stronger Eastern Conference could also appeal to him, and he would likely have a real shot at a starting role over Hezonja.
Jonathan Kuminga is another name still out there, and at 23 he brings a different kind of upside. He could give Cleveland some long-term stability if the team views him as more than a short-term fix. A sign-and-trade would be the path to get him, and if that route opens up, he would add another wing option to the mix.
Kuminga’s stint with the Atlanta Hawks was brief, as he appeared in 16 games and averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Atlanta got him in a deal with the Golden State Warriors, while Golden State received Kristaps Porziņģis and Atlanta also picked up Buddy Hield.
Kuminga’s market is moving, though, and the Los Angeles Lakers have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot as they adjust to life without LeBron. Reports have said an offer has already been made.
Payton Watson belongs on the list as well. The 23-year-old forward put up 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season for the Denver Nuggets, while shooting 41% from three.
Denver has reportedly put a five-year, $70 million offer in front of him, but the team is being careful because of its luxury tax situation. With several teams looking at a sign-and-trade, Cleveland could become a serious player.
Watson’s role has grown since Denver won the championship in 2023, and his numbers have climbed along the way. If the Cavaliers miss on their bigger targets, he could become a very real option.
Kevin Love also belongs in the mix. He is an unrestricted free agent, and a return to Cleveland would not be shocking, even if LeBron’s decision not to come back makes that idea more of a long shot. Love averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while hitting 37% of his threes in 37 games for the Utah Jazz last season.
That Jazz team was focused on improving its draft position late in the year, and the shifting lineups kept Love from settling into a bigger role. A return to Cleveland, where Mitchell is now locked in and Harden could still be on the way, might tempt him if he wants one more title run.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Got Blasted Over The Move Fans Wanted Most
Charles Oakley did not hold back in his criticism of the Cavaliers, taking aim at the way the franchise has handled its roster and the lingering disappointment of never bringing LeBron James back to Cleveland. For fans, that old what-if still hangs over every offseason conversation, especially when the organization is trying to keep pace in a crowded Eastern Conference.
LeBron has now signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and said it will be his final NBA team, closing the door on any future homecoming. Cleveland, meanwhile, is moving forward after its Eastern Conference Finals loss by planning to re-sign James Harden and chase Jonathan Kuminga, a reminder that the front office is still searching for the right mix to break through. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Reacts Wildly To Tarik Skubal Trade News
The latest blockbuster on the baseball side of things turned into an immediate conversation piece well beyond the sport, as the Los Angeles Dodgers landed two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. In return, Detroit picked up outfielder Zyhir Hope along with right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith, a reminder that even the biggest talent moves still come with a steep prospect cost.
Skubal, for his part, sounded eager about the change of scenery and the chance to join a Dodgers staff that already carries a strong reputation. For Cleveland fans following along, it was the kind of star-for-futures trade that always gets attention, especially when the package includes two of Los Angeles' top 100 prospects and leaves plenty of room for debate about which side got the better end of the deal. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Could Reshape Their Wing Rotation With One Risky Move
The Cavaliers have been keeping an eye on the wing market, and one of the more intriguing names tied to them is a young, defense-first forward who could alter the shape of their rotation. Clevelands interest comes with a familiar type of offseason challenge: finding a way to add length and versatility without blowing up the rest of the roster, all while working through the realities of restricted free agency and a tight financial picture.
A sign-and-trade would give the Cavaliers a path into that conversation, but it would also force them to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to make it happen. The asking price on the contract side has already pushed beyond the offers that have been floating around, and Denvers limited flexibility could make the mechanics tricky enough on their own before Cleveland even weighs what it would take to part with a rotation piece and draft capital. [Read more 🡒]