The Cleveland Cavaliers are searching high and low (and overseas) for help on the wing after missing out on LeBron James, though there are limited options available. However, those options are at least intriguing.
Cleveland’s interest in Jonathan Kuminga is well-documented, but Chris Fedor of cleveland.com said on the Wind and Gold Talk podcast that the Cavs have expressed interest in Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson and forward DeMar DeRozan. “I’m told the Cavs have expressed interest in all
three of those guys,” Fedor said. DeRozan presents the easiest option given he is an unrestricted free agent and has been seen widely as the backup to teams that missed out on James.
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But Watson presents a similar issue to that of Kuminga, in that the Cavs would need to pony up some assets in a trade to make that happen. The pathway to acquiring Watson would have to be a sign-and-trade that could cost them someone like Jarrett Allen. That will likely prove to be a dealbreaker for the Cavs, who have been very reluctant to part with Allen unless, of course, it brings back a difference-maker player. Watson is a good player and is coming off a good season, but he is likely not the kind of player the Cavs would seek in return for Allen.
Denver has reportedly offered Watson an extension in the $16-$18 million range per year, according to Marc Stein via his Substack, which is well below his desired amount. Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension with Cleveland in 2024 and will make $28 million this upcoming season, escalating to just over $30 million and $32 million over the next two years.
The Atlanta Hawks have also shown interest in Allen, but the Cavs would need more in return than just Kuminga. Trade scenarios involving sending Allen to Denver or Atlanta seem unlikely, unless the Cavs can get demonstrably better while tying up future money to either Watson or Kuminga in the process.
