The Cavaliers are still hunting for help on the wing, and the clock is ticking with training camp set to open at the end of the month. Jonathan Kuminga has been Cleveland’s main target for a while, but that path has gotten messy, and now another name is starting to take center stage.
Peyton Watson has emerged as the Cavs’ Plan B, and maybe more than that. Cleveland has been in the mix on the athletic forward while trying to sort through the stalled Kuminga talks, and the appeal is obvious: Watson brings upside, defense and the kind of long-term ceiling teams keep chasing.
The challenge is that the Cavaliers are not alone in the hunt. The Clippers and Bucks are also pushing for him.
“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,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
That negotiation has been difficult from the start, with Kuminga and his camp still looking for a long-term contract that matches their asking price. Cleveland even met with him last week in hopes of getting closer to a deal, but the process has not moved cleanly.
“The Cavaliers appear to be prioritizing Peyton Watson now over Jonathan Kuminga as their Plan B wing option after missing out on LeBron James. Cleveland would offer Max Strus or Dennis Schröder alongside a future swap. The Nuggets remain in a serious bind due to apron issues,” Sidery wrote.
Watson’s situation is drawing serious attention across the league, and Denver may end up having to make a hard call. The Nuggets are in active sign-and-trade talks with Cleveland, Milwaukee and Los Angeles, and if they can’t work out a deal, Watson could take the qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
“The Nuggets are in active sign-and-trade discussions with the Bucks, Cavaliers and Clippers on Peyton Watson, per Shams Charania. If Denver doesn’t deal Watson, taking the qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 appears likely due to failed negotiations,” Sidery posted.
For Cleveland, Watson would not just be a fallback option. He’d be a real swing at a young, athletic 3-and-D piece who could grow into something more. He has earned $11 million throughout his young career, and if the Cavs can get him, they’d be adding a wing with the kind of tools that can matter for a long time.
In Other News...
Clippers Make A Quiet Roster Cut With Camp Decisions Looming
Training camp is getting close, and the Clippers made a small but telling roster move as they continue sorting out the edges of the roster. The team had been carrying extra bodies through the offseason, but with camp decisions approaching, the front office trimmed back another guard in a move that fits the usual late-summer churn around the league.
The opening cleared the way for a pair of two-way signings, giving the Clippers a little more structure before the heavy competition begins. For a team trying to balance development, flexibility and immediate depth, these are the kinds of quiet transactions that rarely draw much attention in the moment but often matter once the regular season finally gets here. [Read more 🡒]