New Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson made ESPN's top 100 NBA players list.
New Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Peyton Watson made ESPN's top 100 NBA players list for the upcoming season after not making it last season.
Watson was ranked No. 96.
Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers via a sign-and-trade deal with the Denver Nuggets. The contract includes a player option and a trade kicker.
On the latest Terry’s Talkin’ podcast, Cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto said he spoke to an NBA executive about Watson and the exec is jealous that the Cavaliers got the swingman.
“Our coaches believe he is an elite defender, and they believe he will really continue to grow on offense. They really like him.”
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 next season. On paper, that looks like a lethal starting lineup.
Watson enters next season with career averages of 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Harden recruited him to the Cavaliers.
Cleveland opens next season against LeBron James and the 76ers in Philadelphia. That will be an electric atmosphere.
Can a core of Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Mobley and Allen win a championship? We'll find out soon.
"Watson's impact last year with Denver and his role this season has him cracking the top 100 for the first time," ESPN wrote. "Before injuring his right hamstring Feb. 4, Watson was averaging 14.9 points while shooting 49.6% from the field and 41.7% on 3-pointers. (His 53% clip on corner 3s last season ranked sixth in the NBA among players with at least 1,000 minutes.) Following his offseason trade, Watson is likely to slide into the starting small forward role with Cleveland."
