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Shams: Peyton Watson to Cavs in three-team trade

Peyton Watson

CLE Guard #8

Player Stats

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Peyton Watson has been traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal that also sends Max Strus to the Clippers and an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and the Kings’ 2032 second-round pick to the Nuggets.

The Cavs’ interest in Watson has been rumored for a while, and they were finally able to get a deal done, and it wasn’t just the trade. With the deal, Watson also agreed to a four-year, $88 million extension to stay in Cleveland for a while. Watson is coming off a breakout season and should fill in as the Cavs’ fifth starter alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Watson’s role will look different than it did last season, but his versatility on both ends should fit in well in Cleveland as they look to compete in the East. Watson’s departure should officially lock in Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon as starters in Denver, though Julian Strawther should step into extra minutes off the bench.

Transaction

Source: Shams Charania

More Peyton Watson News

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Max Strus

LAC Guard-Forward #2

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Max Strus has been traded to the Clippers as part of the three-team deal that sent Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers.

Strus will get a fresh start after three seasons in Cleveland. His defense and floor spacing should help make an immediate impact for the Clippers as they look to establish a new identity in the post-Kawhi Leonard era. Strus could start alongside Darius Garland, but his presence in a crowded backcourt will make the rotation difficult to project. Kris Dunn, Bennedict Mathurin (RFA) and Gradey Dick all stand to lose out on minutes with Strus on the squad.
Peyton Watson

DEN Guard #8

NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Cavaliers remain interested in pursuing restricted free agent Peyton Watson.

Watson remains a restricted free agent, and the Cavaliers are reportedly exploring ways to create enough salary-cap space to offer him a four-year deal. According to Stein, Cleveland has considered trade scenarios involving guards Dennis Schroder and Max Strus to shed salary. Watson is seeking a deal worth more than $25 million annually, but could also accept his $6.5 million qualifying offer from the Nuggets and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Whether he remains in Denver or heads elsewhere, Watson has the skill set needed to offer reliable fantasy value. That said, an opportunity to start would raise his ceiling, and that may not be possible in Denver next season.
Peyton Watson

DEN Guard #8

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports that the Nuggets are seeking a future first-round pick in any potential sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson.

Watson remains a restricted free agent, and there has not been much movement between him and the Nuggets regarding a new deal. While Denver wants to hold onto him, the possibility of a sign-and-trade remains. According to Scotto, the Nuggets would want a future first-round pick in return if they were to move Watson. One of the teams reported to be interested, Milwaukee, is said to be willing to consider absorbing Zeke Nnaji’s contract, which the Nuggets have been looking to get off their books for quite some time. Watson also has the option of accepting his qualifying offer of $6.5 million, which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Peyton Watson

DEN Guard #8

Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that the Nuggets offered restricted free agent Peyton Watson a five-year, $70 million contract.

While it was reported that the Nuggets offered Watson $70 million over four years, another report says the team is willing to put up that amount over five years. The Nuggets are looking to get back under the second apron, hence the figure being offered to Watson. Regardless of the contract’s length, the annual value is a far cry from the $25 million that Watson was reportedly seeking. And with teams that have reportedly expressed interest in signing Watson needing to execute a sign-and-trade to get something done, the Nuggets have leverage. Watson has the option to accept his qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer, but that path carries significant risk. If he were to either play poorly or suffer an injury, Watson could stand to lose even more money next summer.
Jalen Duren

DET Center #0

Pistons C Jalen Duren and Nuggets G Peyton Watson are weighing playing next season on the qualifying offer, reports NBA Insider Marc Stein.

By playing under the qualifying offer next season, both Duren and Watson, who are currently restricted free agents, would leave millions on the table to become unrestricted free agents next offseason. Stein reports Denver’s initial contract offers to Watson were believed to be in the four-year, $70 million range. While that offer is certainly less than Watson wants, at least the sides are talking. Duren and the Pistons appear to be at a stalemate as Detroit has no interest in trading him or giving him the max contract he desires. While it’ll be interesting to see how both of these situations ultimately resolve themselves, it remains unlikely that either player will actually resort to accepting the qualifying offer.
Peyton Watson

DEN Guard #8

Sam Amick of The Athletic reports that while the Nuggets plan to match any offer sheet that Peyton Watson signs, they’re also open to potential sign-and-trades.

Watson is a restricted free agent, and like a few other players in his position, he’s been made to wait thanks to a market lacking suitors with available cap space. Denver views him as a key player for the franchise’s future, but there is also a significant gap between what Watson wants, reportedly $25 million per year, and what the team is willing to pay. As a result, the Nuggets are reportedly open to a sign-and-trade as they look to avoid going into the second apron. At this point, only the Nets and Clippers have the cap space to provide Watson an offer sheet without needing to negotiate a trade.
Aaron Gordon

DEN Forward #32

NBA insider Marc Stein reports that teams have registered interest in trading for Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon.

Despite being limited to 87 regular-season games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Gordon is a popular player heading into the offseason. According to Stein, the athletic forward is the veteran Nuggets player who has drawn the most trade interest from opposing teams. However, he also reported that if Denver were to make a move, they would prefer to find a trade partner for Christian Braun rather than for Gordon or Jamal Murray. Making a move would likely make it easier for the Nuggets to hold onto Peyton Watson, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the month.
Max Strus

CLE Guard-Forward #2

Max Strus finished Saturday’s Game 3 loss to the Knicks with 13 points (4-of-12 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and four three-pointers.

Strus has not been in the starting lineup for this series, with Dean Wade (two rebounds, one assist and one steal) receiving the first shot at defending New York’s Jalen Brunson. However, it’s fair to question if Cavaliers’ head coach Kenny Atkinson will consider a lineup change going into Monday’s must-win Game 4. Strus, who logged 31 minutes to Wade’s 17, is a greater threat offensively while being able to harass Brunson defensively. The Knicks’ star still scored 30 points in Game 3, but Cleveland not getting any offensive production from Wade was also problematic. Cleveland needs a win on Monday to extend its season and send the series back to New York for a Game 5.
Sam Merrill

CLE Guard #5

Sam Merrill recorded 23 points (7-of-10 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), one rebound, two assists, one steal and five three-pointers in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Pistons.

Usually, James Harden (nine points, five rebounds and six assists) shooting 2-of-10 from the field would spell doom for his team. That wasn’t the case on Sunday, with Merrill’s performance among the reasons why. Shooting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, Merrill was one of four Cavaliers to finish the 125-94 rout with at least 20 points. Max Strus (9/3/2/3 with one three-pointer) was the fifth starter on Sunday, replacing Dean Wade, but there’s room for Merrill to step up as well. Cleveland visits New York on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Max Strus

CLE Guard-Forward #2

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will start Sunday’s Game 7 against the Pistons.

The Cavaliers have changed their starting lineup for Game 7, with Strus replacing Dean Wade. Strus offers a higher offensive ceiling, and he can also take on the task of defending Cade Cunningham. The other four starters are unchanged.

Rotoworld

Julian Reese

FA Forward #15
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Julian Reese has been waived after being traded to the Nuggets.

Reese was added in to facilitate the Peyton Watson trade to Cleveland, though Denver had no intention to keep him around. Reese ended last season on a two-way deal with Washington and will look to find a new home for next season.
- Noah Rubin

Transaction

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Cam Whitmore

CLE Forward #1
Player Stats

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Cam Whitmore has been traded to the Cavaliers.

Whitmore was added in to facilitate the Peyton Watson trade, and he’ll end up as a young depth piece in Cleveland. However, there are likely too many players in front of him on the depth chart on a team that is trying to compete in the East for him to get much of an opportunity next season.
- Noah Rubin

Transaction

Source: Shams Charania

More Cam Whitmore News
Tre Mann

WAS Guard
Player Stats

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Tre Mann and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick have been traded to the Wizards in exchange for Cam Whitmore as part of the Peyton Watson trade.

Mann was sent to Cleveland from Charlotte as part of the Dennis Schroder trade last week, but he’ll end up back in the Southeast division. Mann has shown flashes and could compete with Bub Carrington for the backup point guard job behind Trae Young, but with the compensation that was required for the Wizards to acquire him, it is unlikely they have big plans for him.
- Noah Rubin

Transaction

Source: Shams Charania
Cam Whitmore
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Max Strus

LAC Guard-Forward #2
Player Stats

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Max Strus has been traded to the Clippers as part of the three-team deal that sent Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers.

Strus will get a fresh start after three seasons in Cleveland. His defense and floor spacing should help make an immediate impact for the Clippers as they look to establish a new identity in the post-Kawhi Leonard era. Strus could start alongside Darius Garland, but his presence in a crowded backcourt will make the rotation difficult to project. Kris Dunn, Bennedict Mathurin (RFA) and Gradey Dick all stand to lose out on minutes with Strus on the squad.
- Noah Rubin

Transaction

Source: Shams Charania
Kris Dunn

Bennedict Mathurin

Gradey Dick
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Peyton Watson

CLE Guard #8
Player Stats

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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Peyton Watson has been traded to the Cavaliers in a three-team deal that also sends Max Strus to the Clippers and an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and the Kings’ 2032 second-round pick to the Nuggets.

The Cavs’ interest in Watson has been rumored for a while, and they were finally able to get a deal done, and it wasn’t just the trade. With the deal, Watson also agreed to a four-year, $88 million extension to stay in Cleveland for a while. Watson is coming off a breakout season and should fill in as the Cavs’ fifth starter alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Watson’s role will look different than it did last season, but his versatility on both ends should fit in well in Cleveland as they look to compete in the East. Watson’s departure should officially lock in Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon as starters in Denver, though Julian Strawther should step into extra minutes off the bench.
- Noah Rubin

Transaction

Source: Shams Charania
Max Strus

Julian Strawther

Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Clippers

Cleveland Cavaliers
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Hunter Dickinson

FA Center #4
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HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports the Pelicans have waived Hunter Dickinson.

The former Michigan and Kansas star went undrafted in 2025 but ended up signing with New Orleans on a two-way deal after the draft. He appeared in five games as rookie; once during the season opener after Yves Missi injured his ankle, and then during the final four games of the Pelicans’ season. Now, the 25-year-old big man will look for a new team to suit up for, though he will likely spend most of his time in the G League.
- Noah Rubin

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Source: Michael Scotto

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Santi Aldama

DAL Forward-Center #34
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Santi Aldama (knee) is expected to be ready for training camp

Aldama underwent knee surgery in March that ended his season prematurely. He’ll won’t suit up for Spain during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers to prioritize his recovery, but he is expected to be ready for training camp in late September. Aldama was dealt to Dallas in July, so this will be a fresh start with a new team that is loaded with frontcourt talent.
- Noah Rubin

Injury

Source: Marc Stein

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Aaron Holiday

FA Guard #0
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Aaron Holiday signed with Maxima Roma.

Holiday may have signed to play next season in Italy, but reports indicate his contract includes an NBA out. If an NBA team is looking to add a reliable perimeter defender and ball handler during the season, they can buy out his contract with Maxima Roma and bring him over. Holiday could end up being a difference maker late this season.
- Noah Rubin

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Source: Marc Stein

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Haywood Highsmith

FA Forward #19
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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Haywood Highsmith has signed a one-year deal to return to the Suns.

Highsmith appeared in only seven games for the Suns last season, and he’ll likely be a depth option in 2026-27.
- Zak Hanshew

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Source: Shams Charania

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Trendon Watford

PHI Guard-Forward #12
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ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the Pelicans.

Watford played a key role off the bench for the Sixers last season, offering scoring, rebounding and assists in 16.3 minutes per game and notching his first career triple-double on November 8 against the Raptors.
- Zak Hanshew

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Source: Shams Charania

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