The Cavaliers are still searching for ways to strengthen the roster before training camp, but the path to Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson looks steep.
Cleveland had pivoted toward those two targets after missing on LeBron James, hoping to land a younger piece who could help on the wing and give the team more versatility. But money is working against the Cavaliers. Kuminga and Watson are each expected to land deals in the $20-$28 million range annually, and Watson reportedly passed on a five-year, $70 million offer from the Denver Nuggets.
Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said adding either player is “highly unlikely” for the Wine and Gold.
“Getting one of them is going to be hard enough given the salary cap situation that the Cavs are currently in, given the lack of perceived trade assets and given the salary cap situation of some of these other teams that we’re talking about here,” said Fedor.
He pointed to Atlanta as one of the teams complicating the process.
“For example, you’ve got the Atlanta Hawks, who have said to teams around the NBA, ‘We’re willing to help out Jonathan Kuminga in a potential sign-and-trade, but we need to be incentivized in order to do that. We’ve got to get something back in return that we actually like.’ That’s part of the holdup.”
Cleveland’s interest makes sense on the basketball side. Either player could help off the bench, and both would also be candidates to start in place of Max Strus or Jaylon Tyson. Still, the reality around the league has turned that pursuit into a difficult one, and the Cavaliers may need to look elsewhere.
The team also still has to sign James Harden to a new contract after he declined his $42.3 million player option to help the team during its pursuit of James.
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