James Harden didn’t wait long to explain why the Cavaliers went after Peyton Watson.
At Monday’s media day at Rocket Arena, Harden said Cleveland’s move for Watson made sense because the team was focused on improving the roster first, even before his own deal was done. The Cavaliers landed Watson from the Denver Nuggets on Aug. 19 in a five-team sign-and-trade, and Harden said the fit was obvious once the opportunity opened up.
“I think just even beginning of the offseason, not in a rush to sign a deal, wanting to better the team first. That was probably number one,” Harden said. “And then figuring out what that looks like after.”
“But when the opportunity came for us to have a chance at signing Peyton, which we have a relationship, I think it was a no-brainer,” Harden continued. “He fits.
He's young. He's athletic.
He's gotten a lot better, and he has a long way to go. It just fits what we're trying to do.
He's been in postseason runs with Denver, so he knows what that looks like, and so he just fits.”
Harden agreed to a three-year, $97 million deal the next day, but the Watson move was already in motion. Watson’s contract runs four years and $88 million, with a player option and a trade kicker. As part of the deal, Max Strus went to the LA Clippers, while Denver received Cleveland’s unprotected 2031 first-round pick and Sacramento’s 2032 second-round pick.
Watson also arrives after the best season of his career. Last year, he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 54 games, while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from 3-point range, and 73.0% at the line. The 30th pick in the 2022 draft turned 24 this month and has averaged 8.7 points over four seasons in Denver.
He did not play in Denver’s 2026 playoffs because of a hamstring injury, according to Sports Illustrated’s Cavaliers site.
Cleveland formally introduced Watson on Sept. 17 at its training complex in Independence, Ohio, where he said he believes he can become a bigger threat from deep and that lining up with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen can sharpen his defense, Spectrum News reported.
Watson also said Cleveland wasn’t one of the first teams expected to get involved, but once the Cavaliers entered the picture, their interest was clear.
“They weren't one of the first teams that was speculated to be interested or one of the first teams that kind of came into the fold, but as soon as they were, they were interested,” Watson said, according to Spectrum News.
At that introduction, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said Watson would help the team win games and said he was excited about what Watson can become in Cleveland.
Harden, who was acquired by Cleveland in a deadline deal with the Clippers in February and is entering his 18th season, played an active role in recruiting Watson, according to Fear the Sword.
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