The Denver Nuggets have traded forward Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a deal that will send sharpshooter Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers and draft capital to the Nuggets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday. Charania also reported that Watson will sign a four-year, $88 million contract with Cleveland.
BREAKING: Cleveland, Denver and the Clippers have agreed on a trade sending Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers, Max Strus to LA, and an unprotected 2031 Cavs first-round
pick and a 2032 Kings second-rounder to the Nuggets, sources tell ESPN.
Watson will sign a new four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers, plus a player option and a trade kicker.
Additionally, the Cavaliers are sending guard Tre Mann, a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers and cash to the Washington Wizards for forward Cam Whitmore, Charania reported. The Wizards are also sending forward Julian Reese to Denver, who will waive Reese off his two-way deal, per Charania.
Charania’s report included the intriguing note that the Portland Trail Blazers were one of the suitors after Watson.
Denver and Cleveland officials finalized the deal Wednesday amid a difficult restricted free agency landscape, with Watson’s reps navigating interest and offers from the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers before narrowing on the guaranteed $88 million deal with the Cavaliers.
Watson, who turns 24 in September, is set to enter his fifth NBA season in the fall. In 54 appearances for the Nuggets last season, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 41.1% from beyond the 3-point arc.
