After yet another flameout in the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers went into the offseason looking for ways to improve their odds. They were part of a multi-team trade that netted them Peyton Watson. It's a gamble that could cost them far more than the picks they gave up.
Since trading for Donovan Mitchell in 2022, the Cavs have returned to playoff contention every season. Their best performance under Mitchell's watch was last season when they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. They were swept by the championship-bound New York Knicks.
Throughout it all, there has been this feeling that Cleveland is close to having an undeniable championship caliber team. The problem is that something is missing that will get them over the top. They tried to fix that with James Harden, who brings playoff success like Santa on Christmas Day.
Their most recent attempt was a massive five-team deal that brought Watson to the team from Denver. They also got Cam Whitmore, but the Cavs waived him. Oddly enough, he ended up being signed to a two-way contract by the Nuggets. Watson's cost isn't as bad as the risk in bringing him in.
Will Peyton Watson get the the Cavs over the top?
Cleveland's part in the trade cost them Max Strus, Tre Mann, two first-round draft picks, and one second-round pick. To be fair, they also got a different second-round pick back. Regardless, they coughed up a significant amount of draft captial to get Watson, which could be a future issue.
At this point, the Cavaliers are starting to lack tradeable draft picks, That creates issues with trying to get new players through the draft, of course, but it's also a problem when it comes to engineering trades. That handcuffs the front office if this roster isn't able to get the job done.
Then there's Watson himself. The Cavs wanted him because of his improved play with the Nuggets. But he only picked up the pace for half a season and missed a good chunk of it due to injury. It's a small sample size to base your team's entire win-now strategy on, especially if he gets injured again.
In an Eastern Conference that evolved quickly over the offseason, the Cavs are banking heavily that Watson is going to be what tips the scales for them. Unless he plays the best basketball of his career through the entire season and into the playoffs, it's hard to see that happening.
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