Cavaliers get trade update on Nuggets' Peyton Watson after moving on from Jonathan Kuminga

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a major positional need throughout the entire offseason but have yet to make a significant move to address it. Cleveland has been pursuing a player like Jonathan Kuminga, but the process has become one of the most complicated situations of the summer.

While chasing Kuminga, the Cavaliers decided to add some wing depth by signing former first-round pick Mario Hezonja to a deal.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Mario Hezonja to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with a trigger date, sources told hoopshype. His $2.8 million salary becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on the roster past November 15th. ESPN first reported an agreement for both sides," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto wrote.

However, when it comes to finding a long-term starter on the wing, Cleveland appears to have shifted its focus away from Kuminga. The organization is now targeting Denver Nuggets NBA champion Peyton Watson.

“The Cavaliers appear to be prioritizing Peyton Watson now over Jonathan Kuminga as their Plan B wing option after missing out on LeBron James. Cleveland would offer Max Strus or Dennis Schröder alongside a future swap. The Nuggets remain in a serious bind due to apron issues,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.

Now, the biggest question is what type of package Denver is looking for in exchange for Watson. ESPN’s Shams Charania recently revealed the teams involved and what potential offers could look like.

“They are in active trade talks with multiple teams on a Peyton Watson sign and trade. That includes Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Clippers. There are combinations of player packages, pick packages as well. So either they're gonna trade him, or you could potentially have him back on a 1-year, $6.5 million qualifying offer,” Charania said.

The Cavaliers’ biggest challenge is that they may not be able to match the offers other teams can provide. However, Cleveland remains determined to land Watson and now has a better understanding of what the market looks like for the prized NBA champion.

If Cleveland can complete a deal by only sending out a player like Max Strus and draft compensation, it would be a major win. The Cavaliers are expected to be aggressive in their pursuit, and Charania’s update gives them valuable insight into what other teams are offering for Watson.

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