It took them much longer than expected, but the Cleveland Cavaliers finally got their guy. Peyton Watson may not be LeBron James, but he was the best of the bunch, and his upside makes him a worthy pickup.
The Denver Nuggets' financial irresponsibility forced their hand to part ways with their promising two-way forward. This move could ultimately lead to a bit of a fire sale from a team that has given up on most of its depth.
However, as good as this trade looked on the surface, we can't help but feel that Koby Altman and company could've gotten a better return for their assets. In fact, they could've probably had Cam Johnson without having to give up a first-round pick.
The Cavaliers should've traded for Cam Johnson instead
First, let's rewind to remember how we got here. The Cavs needed to partake in a five-team trade to get their hands on Watson, sending Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick to the Nuggets, and Tre Mann to the Washington Wizards.
That's fair, but what if they targeted Cam Johnson instead? The financially-struggling Nuggets would've probably agreed to let him go just to get his big contract off the books, and the Cavs could've kept their first-round selection.
Johnson is an elite sharpshooter who can also play strong defense in the wing. He could've given this team a much-needed floor-stretcher and a 3-and-D wing, and while he clearly doesn't have Watson's upside, one could make a case for him to be a better fit for Kenny Atkinson's system.
Moving on from Johnson would probably have given the Nuggets the financial flexibility to keep Watson in town, so this was also a bit short-sighted on their part. Of course, that 2031 first-rounder is worth more, but they're risking running Nikola Jokic out of town with such a thin roster.
As for the Cavs, they've committed to the same guys for the next three years. But what if it doesn't work out? What if James Harden bails on the team like he's done with every franchise he's ever been a part of? Or if Evan Mobley's development remains stalled? Or if Jarrett Allen plays himself off the court in the playoffs again?
Flattened odds or not, the Cavs' pick might turn out to be quite valuable in 2031. Of course, this feels a bit nit-picky, and the Cavs clearly got the best player they could've aimed for, but given how poorly some of their trades have aged, one has every right to be a bit skeptical.
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