Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is excited to have Peyton Watson in the mix this year.
As the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare for the new NBA season, there is a lot to like about how the roster was put together this offseason.
While the Cavaliers didn't bring back LeBron James, Cleveland was still able to make some significant additions to the team. The Cavaliers feel as if this roster gives them the best chance to win in recent years, and they should be competing for a title once again.
After making the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, Cleveland is ready to get back to that place, only this time, changing the outcome. But the regular season will be a challenge, especially with the East being much tougher this year.
The big offseason addition for the Cavaliers was bringing in forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets. Watson started 40 games for Denver this past season, seeing his overall game take another step forward.
With Denver, Watson played in 54 games, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per contest. Watson has been a defensive specialist in the NBA so far, and the Cavaliers are ecstatic that he is now with them.
This led the Cavaliers to give him a four-year, $88 million deal this offseason. With this new contract in place, Cleveland will be expecting more from Watson this coming season.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised the new forward, saying he is excited to see him in the system that Cleveland has. Watson has gotten better each season in the NBA so far, and now, with Cleveland, he could see more of a jump.
The Cavaliers offensive attack was one of the best again last season, and adding Watson should see his numbers be even better. Watson is the typical three-and-D type of player in the NBA, and Cleveland now has a true weapon to use on the wing.
Watson will be tasked with taking on the toughest defensive assignment going forward, giving Cleveland a lockdown defender. Pairing him with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen now gives the Cavaliers one of the top defensive units in the game.
Cleveland believes that Watson can help them get over the hump in the East, with the NBA Finals being the bare-minimum goal for this season. Overall, Watson's addition should make the Cavaliers even stronger in 2026-27, and the team will again be a legitimate title contender in the NBA.
The Cavaliers 2026-27 season kicks off on October 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.
