After a slow offseason that’s finally winding down, the Cleveland Cavaliers have pieced together a wing group built around versatility - and that move has created a very different problem elsewhere on the roster.
The addition of Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets gave Cleveland the kind of tall, switchable small forward it had been searching for. Watson joins Jaylon Tyson and Mario Hezonja as part of a deeper wing rotation, but that strength on the perimeter has thinned out the Cavaliers’ options in the frontcourt.
Cleveland’s backcourt is already crowded with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Craig Porter, Jr., Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas. Those guards will be fighting for minutes all season, but the bigger issue is what’s behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. With Mobley and Allen set to handle most of the work at center, Thomas Bryant is the only veteran behind them for spot duty.
That leaves Nae’Qwan Tomlin with a very real opening.
James Harden’s new three-year, $97 million contract tightens the Cavaliers’ financial flexibility for another frontcourt addition, especially with the Cam Whitmore situation still unresolved. Cleveland may have only about $2 million left to fill its 14th roster spot, which could force the team toward a minimum deal for a player with no NBA experience.
At that price, finding a dependable rotation big is close to impossible. So the most realistic answer may already be in the building.
Tomlin turned himself into a fan favorite last season on a two-way contract, flashing elite athleticism and a relentless edge on defense. Cleveland eventually converted him to a standard deal, banking on the idea that he could grow into a real rotational piece. Now the path is even clearer.
With Watson and Hezonja the only real competition for minutes at the four, Tomlin’s route to a steady backup power forward role stands out. While Thomas, Proctor and Porter are battling for point guard minutes, Tomlin is staring at a frontcourt opening that looks far less crowded.
Last season, Tomlin played in 64 games and made three starts. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game, filling whatever role the Cavaliers asked of him.
His offensive game was limited, but it had juice. The 23.5 percent mark from three-point range wasn’t much to lean on, yet his burst to the rim and raw athleticism produced plenty of eye-catching moments.
He also played with no shortage of confidence. Tomlin’s handle could get him into trouble at times, and turnovers were part of the package, but he didn’t let mistakes freeze him. As the season went on, his passing and decision-making improved as he settled into his place on the roster.
Defensively, the energy never really dropped. Tomlin showed he could bang inside, hold his own in the post and move well enough to stay connected on the perimeter. That same forcefulness sometimes pushed him into foul trouble, but it also made him disruptive.
At 6-foot-8, his ability to switch between guarding the paint and chasing on the outside already fits what Cleveland needs from a depth big. The Cavaliers don’t need him to suddenly become a star or challenge Mobley for a starting job. They need something simpler: better scoring efficiency on screen-and-rolls and cuts, plus a cleaner balance between aggression and control on defense.
Cleveland has already watched Tomlin develop across his first two seasons in the organization, both in the G League and in the NBA. If that growth keeps going, the Cavaliers may already have their answer to a thin frontcourt sitting on the payroll.
In Other News...
Cavs Are Closing In On A Move That Changes Daily Life
The Cavaliers are getting ready for a significant shift in their day-to-day routine, with plans to move into the new Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center during the NBA All-Star break in February. Located downtown, the new facility is expected to be a major upgrade from the teams current practice site in Independence, giving the organization a much larger footprint and a more centralized home base for players and staff.
For a franchise that has spent years operating out of its suburban setup, the move changes more than just the commute. The downtown center is designed with multiple amenities in mind, while the old Independence facility is set for a different future as the training home of the Cleveland Sirens, the WNBA expansion team due to arrive in 2028. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Latest Roster Upgrade Came From A Twist Fans Didnt Expect
The Cavaliers latest roster shuffle came together in a way few around the league likely saw coming, with the club moving Dennis Schroder and landing Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade with Denver that also sent Max Strus to the Clippers. It was the kind of multi-team business that can reshape a roster quickly, and for Cleveland it created a path to add a young, rangy piece without waiting around for the usual offseason market to settle.
The twist behind it is what makes the deal stand out. James Hardens decision to decline his player option and then sign a new deal later than expected gave the Cavaliers more cap flexibility than they anticipated, opening the door for the move to happen. Harden also reportedly recruited Watson to the team and has been active in workouts, adding an unexpected layer to a transaction that now looks less like a simple roster swap and more like a timely break that Cleveland was able to turn into an upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Have A Real Path To The Easts Top Seed
Cleveland finished its offseason by adding James Harden and Peyton Watson, with Watson agreeing to a four-year deal, and the result is a roster that suddenly looks deeper and more athletic than it did a few weeks ago. The front office has also brought in players like Mario Hezonja, giving the Cavaliers more options on the wing and more ways to keep the rotation from thinning out over the course of the season.
For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to turn talent into consistency, the bigger question now is how quickly all of those pieces come together once the games start counting. The East does not leave much room for hesitation at the top, and Clevelands path to finishing first may end up depending as much on chemistry and fit as on star power or depth. [Read more 🡒]