The Cleveland Cavaliers have been working to acquire Jonathan Kuminga since LeBron James decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. It has been a lengthy process for Cleveland, as both Kuminga and the Atlanta Hawks have made sign-and-trade negotiations difficult.
Kuminga is still a young player with plenty of upside. The Cavaliers have even met with him in an effort to move negotiations in the right direction.
“The Cavaliers will meet with Jonathan Kuminga about working towards finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon, per Chris Fedor. Cleveland is a main finalist for Kuminga’s services alongside the Lakers. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
As the Kuminga negotiations continue to drag on, the Cavaliers have begun exploring other options. Cleveland is now showing interest in a sign-and-trade for Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson.
“The Cavaliers are now showing sign-and-trade interest in Peyton Watson, per Ramona Shelburne. James Harden remains unsigned, which allows Cleveland flexibility to add a starting wing like Watson or Jonathan Kuminga,” Sidery posted.
Watson offers a skill set similar to Kuminga’s, but many believe he brings even more athleticism and defensive versatility. It will be interesting to see whether Cleveland can work out a deal, especially considering Watson is reportedly seeking a contract worth around $28 million annually.
“Peyton Watson and his camp want something in that $28 million north range and the offers so far have been fluctuating between that $20-24 million per year range… When you’re Peyton Watson, you want more than Christian Braun,” NBA insider Brett Siegel said.
Watson could be an excellent fit for the Cavaliers because of his impact on both ends of the floor. He has developed into a strong defender while continuing to improve offensively, giving Cleveland another athletic wing with significant upside.
Watson has earned $11 million during his NBA career. Now, he appears poised to land a much larger contract, and the Cavaliers are hoping to be the team that signs him.
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