The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a defensive anchor in Peyton Watson and locked down veteran star James Harden, signaling a fresh direction for the team.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were busy over the last 72 hours, adding Peyton Watson in a trade and bringing back James Harden on a new contract. Spencer German and Spencer Davies analyze the moves in Courtside with Cavs.
After a quiet first few months of the offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers struck late in the summer once again. Over the last few days, they acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in a five-team trade that sent Max Strus to the LA Clippers, Dennis Schroder to the Charlotte Hornets. Watson signed a four-year, $88 million contract with the team.
The Cavs also picked up Cam Whitmore from the Washington Wizards and sent a 2031 unprotected first-round pick (and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder) to Denver. It looks unlikely that Whitmore will stay long, however, as Cleveland agreed to terms with James Harden on a brand new, three-year, $97 million contract. The deal is fully guaranteed with a player option in the final season.
Spencer German and Spencer Davies react to both transactions, what they mean for the Cavs, and how the Wine and Gold will measure up in the Eastern Conference in 2026-27.
Topics of the latest show include the following:
- Watson brings a completely different dynamic to the table that Cleveland is used to at the 3. He is young, long, fast, and athletic, which should not only help Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but also Harden and Donovan Mitchell defensively. He can cover ground, stay in front, come out of nowhere in help defense, and handle the open floor on both ends.
- Offensively, Watson's profile is a mixed bag. He is a low-usage player, so the others will be able to set him up for corner threes and on cuts. By the same token, the Denver Nuggets ran their sets through Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, meaning that he played a specific role and didn't showcase his skill set to the fullest extent. Watson likes to take shots when he sees touches, getting to the mid-range and the free-throw line.
- Strus and Schroder are on the way out in the deal, and both will be missed despite the necessary facelift the team is undergoing. Each brought leadership and toughness to the table, and Strus fought tooth and nail to return to the court last year after breaking his foot before the season. He ended up playing the fifth-most minutes for the squad in the playoffs, and that can't go unnoticed.
- Harden's patience and willingness to play ball led to Watson's acquisition to make the Cavs better, which should be applauded. Cleveland rewarded him for his cooperation with a fully guaranteed contract with multiple years of security.
