3-team deal sends Watson to Cavs, Strus to Clips

The Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers have agreed on a trade that will send Peyton Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles, sources told ESPN. As part of the multi-team deal, Denver will receive an unprotected 2031 Cavs first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder, according to sources. Watson will sign a new four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers, which includes a player option and trade kicker, his agents from Klutch Sports told ESPN. The Cavaliers, coming off an Eastern Conference finals appearance where they were swept by the New York Knicks, have retooled their roster, bringing in the 23-year-old wing for athleticism and scoring after a career year in Denver. Watson averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals in 2025-26 while shooting 41% from 3. He also had four 30-point games, after having none in his first three seasons in the league. The Clippers are sending a 2027 second-rounder acquired from Philadelphia 76ers in the Johni Broome trade to Cleveland to acquire an established player in Strus via a trade exception. As part of the trade, the Cavaliers will send Tre Mann and the 2027 second-rounder from the Clippers to the Washington Wizards, sources said. Denver and Cleveland officials finalized the deal Wednesday amid a difficult restricted free agency landscape, with Watson's reps navigating interest and offers from the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers before narrowing on the guaranteed $88 million deal with the Cavaliers. Since entering the league in 2022-23, Watson ranks second in field goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender among players to contest at least 2,000 shots. ESPN Research contributed to this report.