Peyton Watson is already setting the tone for his new team.
The Cavaliers forward, acquired from the Nuggets in a sign-and-trade deal, said he wants Cleveland to bring a tougher edge every night, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.
“Just to go out there with a mean streak. Go out there and try to kill.
Take no prisoners mentality,” Watson said. “That’s my mentality, and that’s something I’ll be echoing to the team.
There is no time for being nice and buddy-buddy with the opposition. The league is more competitive than ever, and there are guys going out there that are trying to take what you have, and they want what you have.”
Watson also pointed to the less glamorous part of a title chase: staying healthy and learning how to play together long enough to make it matter.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Everybody knows that is the most challenging thing is to stay durable and available for an entire season and practice the right principles.
That’s something we’re challenging ourselves to do, and I think that we’ve got the personalities on the team for it, and we’ve got the roster for it. After that, it’s not about talking about what we’re going to do but actually going out there and doing it.”
Around the Eastern Conference, the Raptors moved on from Jamarion Sharp at the end of training camp, but he may not be leaving the organization. Raptors 905 has taken over his rights, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet. Sharp was on an Exhibit 10 contract, and if he joins the G League club and remains there for at least 60 days, he could earn a bonus of up to 91K.
Charlotte is dealing with a crowded injury report, though there is some progress on the rehab front. Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain), Grant Williams (right hamstring strain) and Coby White (left calf strain) have all gotten back to individual on-court work, the Hornets’ PR department said. Even so, all three will sit out Wednesday’s opener against Brooklyn.
Orlando has its own list of absences to manage. The Magic will be without Anthony Black (right ankle sprain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee injury management), Noah Penda (right partially torn hamstring) and Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle injury management) for Wednesday’s season opener against Atlanta, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reported. Franz Wagner, dealing with right shoulder soreness, is available, and Jase Richardson, who had back soreness, is also set to play, Beede added.
In Other News...
Magic Open With One Early Issue Fans Can't Ignore
Franz Wagner took part fully in practice and is set to be available when the Magic open the season Wednesday against the Hawks, giving Orlando a key piece right away as it tries to start on solid footing. The workout also included Jase Richardson and Jonathan Isaac in varying capacities, a reminder that the first week of the season already has a few moving parts as the roster gets sorted out.
Anthony Blacks situation is the one that hangs over the day a little more than the rest. The guard is out Wednesday with a right ankle sprain, and his contract situation adds another layer after he and the team did not reach a rookie-scale extension before Mondays deadline, leaving his next step in Orlando uncertain as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagners Status Just Became A Major Magic Storyline
Franz Wagners preseason shoulder injury has quietly become one of the more important early-season storylines for Orlando, especially with the opener against Atlanta now on the calendar. Wagner addressed the media recently to talk through the injury, the recovery process and how the Magic have been handling a new system under Coach Sweeney, giving a sense of a team that is still sorting itself out while trying to build on the progress it has made.
For Wagner, there is also a personal edge to this moment after the disappointment of past seasons, and he sounded motivated by what the group has been trying to establish. The bigger question hanging over the Magic is how close he is to being available when the games start to count, and whether his shoulder will allow him to take the floor as Orlando tries to set its tone right away. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Just Sent A Clear Message About Two Young Rotation Pieces
The Magic are making an early investment in two young rotation pieces, locking in forward Tristan Da Silva and guard Jase Richardson for the next stretch of their development. Both players were already under guarantee for the upcoming season, but the clubs latest move keeps them in Orlando beyond that window and gives the front office more certainty as it continues to shape the roster around its younger core.
For a team trying to build sustainable depth, these kinds of decisions matter because they signal more than just routine bookkeeping. Da Silva and Richardson have now been tied to the organization through the next two years, giving the Magic a little more stability in the rotation while they sort out how these prospects fit into the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]