The Cavaliers made their big swing at forward this offseason, and it came with a steep price.
Cleveland passed on the chance to move Evan Mobley in possible deals for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James chose Philadelphia over a third return to Cleveland. That left the Cavs to pivot, and they landed restricted free agent Peyton Watson on a four-year, $88MM contract in a sign-and-trade that involved five teams. To get it done, Cleveland sent out Max Strus, Tre Mann, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and a 2032 second-round pick.
President of basketball operations Koby Altman made it clear why the organization pushed so hard for Watson.
“He’s 6-foot-8. He’s rangy.
He’s bouncy. He fits with this group,” Altman said, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
“It’s rare and unique that you have an opportunity to add a player of that upside, that magnitude to this group. Every minute he’s been out on the basketball floor has been with an eye towards playoffs.
With all those meaningful reps, he comes to our team in the same vein. We’re trying to win a championship.
He understands the importance of possessions. He understands the importance of teamwork and how
you build toward the ultimate success. We’re really high on Peyton.”
Cleveland also locked up another core piece earlier in the offseason, giving Donovan Mitchell a four-year maximum extension. Mitchell said there was never any real doubt about what he would do if the front office put the deal in front of him. He could have waited until next offseason and potentially made more, but he wasn’t interested in taking that path.
“I mean, I think for myself, it’s more so of a commitment to this group, to the city and understanding, yeah, I could have waited and made it about myself and whatnot, but I’ve been blessed to make a lot of money in this league and do what I’ve been able to do,'” Mitchell said. “So, for me, how can we as a team go out there and find a way to make moves?
Pretty much team first. Y’all know how I am and what I’m about.
That’s pretty much my mindset behind it. But I told Koby, I was like, ‘Listen, you ain’t really got to ask.
The first day it’s allowed.’ It wasn’t really much of a talk.
I’ve said to him I want to be here. I’ve said it publicly and I love being here.
Now it’s about delivering and everything else that comes with it.”
In Milwaukee, Bucks governor Wes Edens addressed the league’s investigation into Gary Trent Jr.’s contract extension, though he didn’t offer much beyond the team’s cooperation.
“We’re working with the league and fully cooperating with them, but I don’t have any insight beyond that,” he said, according to CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney.
The Bucks gave Trent a four-year, $64MM deal after two straight offseasons of signing him to modest one-year contracts, which led to questions about whether there had been an under-the-table understanding in place.
Over in Indiana, Larry Nance Jr. is dealing with a hamstring injury that dates back about two weeks, and coach Rick Carlisle said the veteran big man is limited in camp for now. Tony East of Forbes.com reported that there’s optimism Nance will be fully cleared in about a week or two. Nance joined the Pacers on a one-year free agent deal in July to provide frontcourt depth.
In Other News...
Craig Porter Jr. Faces A Cavs Question Defense Alone Wont Answer
Craig Porter Jr. is back in the mix for Cleveland entering his fourth season, and the backup point guard job is one of the more interesting camp battles around the roster. Porter has already built a reputation as a disruptive defender and a strong rebounder for his position, which gives him a clear lane in the conversation. But with the Cavaliers looking to fill that reserve role, his case is tied just as much to whether his offense can keep pace as it is to the edge he brings on the other end.
Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas are also in the picture, which makes this a real competition rather than a courtesy nod to experience. For Porter, the challenge is familiar: defense can get him on the floor, but Cleveland needs a backup guard who can steady the offense too, and that part of his game still has room to grow. How he handles that balance will go a long way toward deciding whether he claims the opening. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Champion Brings An Uncomfortable Update Fans Didn't Expect
JR Smith, one of the more recognizable names from the Cavaliers 2016 championship run, is back in the news for a far less celebratory reason. Hunt County jail records show the former guard was arrested in Texas on a charge of family violence assault causing bodily injury, an unwelcome update for a player many Cleveland fans still remember from the franchises biggest moment.
According to the records, Smith was pulled over after an automatic license plate reader flagged his vehicle because of an active warrant, and he was then booked at the Hunt County Detention Center. Smith, a two-time NBA champion who later enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University as a collegiate golfer, has long been in the public eye for life beyond basketball, but this latest development leaves a very different kind of question hanging over his post-playing career. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade Just Gave Cavs Fans A New Reason To React
Dean Wades move to Philadelphia gives Cavaliers fans a familiar face to watch from a different angle this season. After spending his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland, Wade signed with the 76ers and now finds himself on a roster built with a clear title pursuit in mind. For a player who carved out his role with length, versatility and steadiness, the shift comes with a different kind of pressure and a different set of expectations.
In an interview, Wade said he joined the Sixers to compete for a championship, a familiar line in a new uniform but one that still matters when it comes from a player with his background. Philadelphia expects him to be more than just a depth piece, with a chance to factor as a versatile defender and a useful bench contributor. For Cavs fans, it is another reminder of how much value Wade developed in Cleveland, and why his next chapter could end up being watched closely back home. [Read more 🡒]