New Cavaliers Forward Peyton Watson Gets Strong Praise From Kenny Atkinson

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets in the offseason in a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal. 

Cleveland wanted to sign hometown legend LeBron James, but he went to the Philadelphia 76ers, who also signed former Cavaliers forward Dean Wade.

The Cavaliers rebounded nicely by getting Watson after LeBron signed with the 76ers. Watson made his Cleveland preseason debut on Thursday against the Boston Celtics and showed off his versatility, finishing with seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said of Watson. “I want to see him in the short roll. I want to see him not just floating on the perimeter. I want to see him rebound and push the ball. Then cutting and offensive rebounding. He’s an active offensive player. He’s not just a spot-up guy.”

Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers via a sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets. The contract includes a player option and a trade kicker.

For the Nuggets last season, Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. He's one of the top two-way wings in the league.

Cleveland will start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen this season. On paper, that looks like a lethal starting lineup. 

Watson enters this season with career averages of 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Harden recruited him to the Cavaliers, who open the regular season in Philadelphia against LeBron, Wade, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and the 76ers. 

Mitchell, Watson, Harden, Mobley and Allen will try to do what LeBron did in 2016. The 2015-16 Cavaliers won the 2016 championship against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

Harden is still searching for his first NBA championship. He went to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Thunder, who lost to LeBron and the Miami Heat in five games.

Mitchell is one of eight players to average at least 20 points per game in each of the past nine seasons. The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz before the 2022-23 season. Mitchell is averaging 26.7 points per game in the regular season and 27.3 points per game in the playoffs in a Cleveland uniform.   

A seven-time All-Star, Mitchell led the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. It was the first time Cleveland made the conference finals since 1992 without LeBron.

The New York Knicks swept Mitchell and the Cavaliers in the conference finals, but Cleveland's front office remained loyal to Mitchell by giving him the huge extension. 

Mitchell signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension this offseason.  He enters this season with career averages of 25.1 points per game in the regular season and 27.8 points per game in the playoffs with the Jazz and Cavaliers.