The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the quietest teams in the NBA for most of the summer. However, they made a pair of giant moves in the last few weeks. The Cavs traded for Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade deal, and shortly after that, they signed James Harden to an extension. The Watson move, in particular, will help the Cavaliers now and after the Donovan Mitchell era.
Watson is still only 23 years old. He’s steadily improved during his time with the Denver Nuggets, and last year, a hot stretch in the middle of the season flashed his potential. The new Cavaliers forward has a real chance to blossom into one of the better 3-and-D role players in the NBA. The question is, can he get to that point?
Because if he can, the Cavaliers will not only have a perfect role player playing alongside their current core, but also a future piece who could help lead the next iteration of Cavaliers teams.
Peyton Watson can help Donovan Mitchell era and beyond
Mitchell isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He’s one of the best players in the league, and the Cavs should feel good about his ability to be the best player on one of the better teams in the East.
Having a guy like that is not something most teams around the league can lay claim to. Adding someone like Watson is a great step in the right direction to building around Mitchell.
Watson is a good three-point shooter, a solid defender, and a great athlete. He fits the mold of who the Cavs should be looking for when it comes to filling their role as a fifth starter next to Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
His skill set should slide in next to those guys perfectly on both ends of the court, helping elevate the team around Mitchell in the short-term. But Watson benefits the long-term, too.
The second apron is going to be a tough hurdle for the Cavaliers to overcome. They just handed Mitchell a massive contract. He won’t be in Cleveland forever, and moving on could happen within the next five years or so, if things don’t break the Cavs’ way.
But even if it’s five years from now, Watson will only be 27 by then. He’ll be in the prime of his career, just starting what could be a shiny new extension.
At that point, Watson could either be a great foundational piece of the next era of Cavaliers or a trade chip to help set them up. And in the short-term, he’s a great role player to help Mitchell and company compete for titles.
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