Peyton Watson’s first run with the Cleveland Cavaliers gave the team a pretty clear look at both sides of the package: the upside that made him attractive in the first place, and the rough edges that come with a player still settling in.
The preseason was the right setting for that. It was a chance for Watson to get real reps with new teammates and a new staff, and for Cleveland to see how his game fits in live action. The results were uneven, but the bigger-picture takeaway was easy enough to spot - the tools are real, even if the shot wasn’t falling.
Watson finished the exhibition slate 8/22 from the field, a 36.4% mark that reflected a lot of hesitation around the rim of efficiency. He took a wide mix of looks, from midrange shots to pull-up threes to catch-and-shoot chances, and the perimeter work was especially rocky.
From deep, he went 2/12, or 16.7%, and by tracking the attempts, 10 of those were catch-and-shoot threes with 2 pull-up jumpers. The distribution was balanced too: 3 from the left corner, 4 from the right corner and 5 above the break.
The defense knew where he was. Orlando and Boston both closed out hard, which made life tougher on every one of those perimeter chances.
That attention makes sense given what Watson did from long range last season, when he hit roughly 41.1% of his looks from beyond the arc in 2025-26. He isn’t sneaking up on anybody anymore.
Still, the shot volume didn’t tell the whole story. Watson showed flashes as an on-ball creator, particularly when he worked into the midrange.
He made 2 of 4 there, and both came in isolation. That kind of self-created offense matters for Cleveland, especially if he can keep giving the Cavaliers another place to go besides Donovan Mitchell and James Harden when the game tightens up later in the season.
He also made his mark on the offensive glass. Watson turned a couple of missed shots into putbacks, including a dunk that stood out because of how hard he attacked the board. That kind of effort plays, and it fits the kind of energy Cleveland had in mind when it brought him in.
The transition impact was less visible on the box score, but the chain reaction was there. Watson had several possessions where his defense started the break, whether with a stop, a block or a steal. Those moments didn’t happen constantly, but they showed how his activity can create easy chances the other way.
Defensively, that’s where he looked most comfortable. His help defense was the clear headline, which lines up with the shot-blocking he brought over from last season.
He’s the kind of bouncy wing who can help at the point of attack, but his rotations and timing away from the ball may end up mattering just as much for this group. He finished with 4 blocks in 3 games, and he also got fingertips on at least 2 perimeter attempts.
Now that Cleveland’s 3-game preseason is done, attention shifts to the regular season opener against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd.
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Among the notable moves is the arrival of Galen Davies, who has taken on a major leadership role on the Cavaliers business side after leaving Portland, where he had been chief revenue officer. For Cleveland, it is the kind of hire that can strengthen the organization behind the scenes, even if the circumstances around it speak to the broader uncertainty surrounding the Blazers ownership change and the cost-cutting ripple effects still being felt there. [Read more 🡒]
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Interest in Allen has been real enough to keep the phone lines busy, but the Cavaliers have drawn a clear line: they would only move him if the return clearly boosts their title chances. For now, there have been plenty of inquiries, yet no formal offer to push the discussion past the curiosity stage, which says as much about Clevelands priorities as it does about Allens value around the league. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Preseason Left One Rotation Battle Looking Much Different
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The backup point guard spot, meanwhile, never really produced the separation the Cavaliers were hoping for. Tyrese Proctor got chances to make his case, but his offense never found much rhythm and the overall production left the door open for Cleveland to keep looking as the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]