The Cleveland Cavaliers will re-sign James Harden. They are also interested in Peyton Watson
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cleveland Cavaliers will re-sign James Harden soon.
The Cavaliers are also interested in Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson.
"Harden’s representatives, Mike Silverman, Troy Payne, and Brandon Grier of Equity Sports, have discussed multi-year structures, including two- or three-year scenarios, with the Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype. For Harden and the Cavaliers, it’s a question of what kind of deal they’ll agree to and when, not if, at this point," Scotto wrote.
"Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have recently called to express interest in a sign-and-trade for Denver Nuggets restricted free-agent forward Peyton Watson, league sources told HoopsHype. The newfound interest in Watson comes on the heels of Cleveland also being in the mix for free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga in sign-and-trade discussions."
The Cavaliers made the conference finals last season, losing to the New York Knicks in four quick games. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs. The future Hall of Famer still hasn't won a championship.
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 best two-way wings in the NBA.
The Cavaliers didn't get LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Once Cleveland re-signs Harden and if Watson comes to the Cavaliers, head coach Kenny Atkinson can start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season.
The biggest move the Cavaliers made this summer was signing Mitchell to a massive extension. Mitchell agreed to a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with Cleveland.
The Cavaliers acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. 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, but the Knicks swept the Cavaliers en route to winning the championship against the San Antonio Spurs.
Without LeBron, the Cavaliers' core remains the same: Harden, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen. We'll see if that core can get over the hump next season.
The Cavaliers did sign Mario Hezonja after LeBron went to the 76ers. The next step is to re-sign Harden and try to get Watson.
Cleveland is also still interested in Jonathan Kuminga, who played for the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks last season.
