How Cavs Stack Up Against East Contenders After Peyton Watson Trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the 2026-27 season looking to contend for an NBA title. The Cavs were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, showing how far they were from competing for a title despite having four stars on the roster with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.

That led Cleveland to pull off a blockbuster trade, acquiring forward Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets. The Cavs traded Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers in the deal, as well as significant draft capital, sending a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick to the Nuggets.

Watson is coming off a career year, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting an efficient 49.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three.

His blend of athleticism, defense, and shooting should fit well alongside Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and Allen.

This should be one of the best starting lineups in the league, but Cleveland also has some solid players off the bench. The Cavs signed Mario Hezonja to be a forward off the bench. Hezonja last played in the NBA in the 2019-20 season and averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds, shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 30.8 percent from deep.

Although Hezonja struggled in his last year in the NBA, he has thrived overseas. In the 2025-26 season for Real Madrid in Liga ACB, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and a steal per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from distance.

He could be a solid role player for the Cavs off the bench. Cleveland also has Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, and Thomas Bryant. Tyson could assume the 6th Man role, as he averaged 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old shot 49.3 percent from the floor and 44.6 percent from behind the arc.

Merrill has proven to be a reliable shooter off the bench, and his role will be more valuable after the Cavs traded away Strus. 

The 30-year-old sharpshooter averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from downtown. While Cleveland doesn't have a ton of depth, they have a few quality contributors off the bench.

With this roster, the Cavs will be one of the best teams in the East. However, they will have fierce competition from the reigning-champion Knicks and the much-improved Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.

Cleveland should be considered a true contender out East, but if they want to win a title, they may need to add another role player or two off the bench at the trade deadline.