The Cavaliers are still in the thick of the Jonathan Kuminga chase, but one proposed pivot could send Cleveland in a different direction entirely.
Kuminga’s asking price is the sticking point. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, “Jonathan Kuminga is demanding a salary in free agency exceeding $20 million annually, per The Athletic.
Kuminga prefers a sign-and-trade from the Hawks over leaving outright, simply due to the added financial implications. The Cavaliers and Lakers are the finalists for Kuminga.”
Cleveland hasn’t eased off. The team is still working through possible paths to land the restricted free agent, and Sidery also reported that the Cavaliers are set to meet with Kuminga in hopes of finding common ground.
“The Cavaliers will meet with Jonathan Kuminga about working towards finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon, per Chris Fedor. Cleveland is a main finalist for Kuminga's services alongside the Lakers. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually," Sidery wrote.
But if Kuminga doesn’t come together, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has Cleveland taking a different swing in a four-team blockbuster built around Denver Nuggets wing Peyton Watson.
In Swartz’s proposal, the Cavaliers would get Watson on an $80 million contract. The Nuggets would receive Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, a 2032 second-round pick via Cleveland and a 2033 second-round pick via Cleveland. The Pistons would land Dennis Schroder, while the Clippers would get Cam Johnson and Max Strus.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious: Watson comes in at a similar price to what Kuminga is seeking, but with a different kind of upside and, in Swartz’s view, a potentially smoother long-term negotiation. The deal would lock Watson in for four seasons on that $80 million pact.
There’s another wrinkle here, too. The Nuggets have reportedly lowered their asking price for Watson because of their difficult luxury tax situation, which could make him more attainable if Cleveland decides to move on from the Kuminga pursuit.
And if Watson ends up in Cleveland, the fit would be straightforward enough: he’d join a roster featuring Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
In Other News...
Peyton Watsons Future Just Put Denvers Cap Crunch In Focus
Peyton Watsons next contract has become one of the more revealing tests of where the Nuggets stand financially. Denver has already put a number on the table for the restricted free agent forward, but Watsons camp has been aiming much higher, a gap that puts his place in the teams long-term plans right alongside the clubs broader cap stress.
The Nuggets are open to sign-and-trade possibilities, but the mechanics are anything but simple, especially with rival teams needing to thread their own cap rules to get involved. For Denver, the bigger question is no longer just whether Watson stays, but whether a deal can be structured at all without forcing the front office into an even tighter corner. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Suddenly Face A Real Peyton Watson Decision This Summer
Peyton Watson has become one of the more interesting summer decisions on Denvers board, and not just because the Nuggets still need to sort out their own depth chart. The restricted free agents value has grown enough that a sign-and-trade is at least part of the conversation, especially with Denver trying to balance present contention against the cost of keeping a young wing whose role has expanded.
Chicago is one of the teams to keep in the background here. The Bulls have kept roster flexibility intact and still have a full-time spot open, which leaves room for a player with Watsons age, length and defensive profile to fit their longer-term timeline under Tiago Splitter. Nothing has been publicly tied together yet, but the overlap is obvious enough to make this one worth watching if Denver keeps exploring the market. [Read more 🡒]