Cavaliers address issue at key spot with Peyton Watson sign-and-trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, in hopes that they've finally found their small forward of the future.

Watson gets $88M over four years from the Cavs, who had to sacrifice two draft picks and their previous small forward of the future, Max Strus. It's a move that reloads the Eastern Conference finalists while costing them their final tradable first-round pick.

Peyton Watson joins revolving door for Cleveland Cavaliers

For the last few seasons, the Cavaliers have had current and future All-Stars at four of their starting positions, with the exception of small forward. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have all made All-Star teams, as did Darius Garland before he was traded for 11-time All-Star James Harden last season.

But finding a fifth wheel has been a constant struggle for the Cavs. They used the No. 5 pick on Isaac Okoro in 2020, but he never developed an offensive game. In 2022, they traded for Caris LeVert, but he wasn't a good enough outside shooter to pair with Mobley and Allen.

They gave Strus four years and $62.3M in a sign-and-trade in 2023, then traded LeVert and Georges Niang for De'Andre Hunter at the 2025 deadline. They used a first-round pick on Jaylen Tyson in 2024 and dumped Hunter for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder last season.

All told, the Cavaliers devoted two first-round picks to small forwards while trading two firsts and four second-rounders without finding a solution. After giving up another second and a first for Watson, they have to hope the almost-24-year-old finally fills their hole at the three.