Peyton Watson Trade: Cavs Sign-and-Trade, $88M

The Peyton Watson trade is official, and it is a four-year, $88 million bet in Cleveland. The Cavaliers announced Friday they are acquiring restricted free agent forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Watson will wear No. 8. He gets a four-year, $88 million contract. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the framework Wednesday: Watson to the Cavs, Max Strus to the Clippers, and an unprotected 2031 Cleveland first-round pick plus a 2032 Kings second-rounder to Denver.

Friday's announcement turned that into a five-team deal. Cleveland also gets Cam Whitmore from the Washington Wizards and the draft rights to Ismael Kamagate from the Clippers, Hoops Rumors reported. The Cavs send Strus to Los Angeles and Dennis Schröder to Charlotte. Charlotte sends Tre Mann to Washington. Denver gets Julian Reese on a two-way, plus those two draft picks. Yahoo Sports had Charania adding Whitmore and Reese as the deal expanded.

Peyton Watson trade terms: $88 million and a starter's job

Watson's representatives at Klutch Sports told ESPN he will sign the four-year, $88 million deal with a player option and a trade kicker. Hoops Rumors put the kicker at 7.5 percent and said the fourth year is a player option. The Cavs' own bio, via the Beacon Journal, listed Watson at 6-foot-8, 200 pounds, 54 games and 40 starts last season in Denver: 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.13 blocks in 29.6 minutes, shooting .491 from the field and .411 from three. Career: 225 games, 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.12 blocks. He won a title with Denver in 2023. Oklahoma City took him 30th in 2022 after one season at UCLA.

"Peyton is a young, talented player who we believe fits extremely well with the direction of our team," Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. "His length, athleticism and defensive versatility give us the ability to play him across multiple positions and create more flexibility on both ends of the floor." The Beacon Journal called him a projected starter. NBC Sports, in a related note, had him filling in as the fifth starter next to James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.

What Cleveland gave up, and what Denver opened

Strus played 132 games in three Cleveland seasons, averaging 11.0 points, the Cavs said. Schröder averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 assists in 30 games after a Feb. 1 trade. Altman thanked both. Clippers president Lawrence Frank called Strus "a great shooter with good feel," Hoops Rumors reported. Charlotte gets Schröder and about $4 million in cash.

Denver is $1.3 million over the second apron, ESPN noted. The Nuggets have been linked to DeMar DeRozan for the roster spot Watson left. Cleveland, on the other side of the same offseason, just agreed to keep James Harden on a three-year, $97 million deal. The Watson trade hard-caps the Cavs at the first apron, Hoops Rumors said, with room still left for Harden. The other open market wing in this cycle is DeRozan's one-year deal in Denver. Cleveland paid $88 million and a first-round pick for a 24-year-old defender who just shot 41 percent from three.

Peyton Watson trade FAQ

What did the Cavaliers give Peyton Watson? A four-year, $88 million contract in a sign-and-trade from Denver, the Cavs announced Friday. ESPN said it includes a player option and a trade kicker. Hoops Rumors listed the kicker at 7.5 percent.

Who else moved in the Peyton Watson trade? Five teams. Cleveland also gets Cam Whitmore and the rights to Ismael Kamagate. Max Strus goes to the Clippers. Dennis Schröder goes to Charlotte. Tre Mann goes to Washington. Denver gets a 2031 first, a 2032 second, and Julian Reese.

What did Peyton Watson average last season? 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.13 blocks in 29.6 minutes over 54 games (40 starts), the Cavs said, shooting .491 from the field and .411 from three.