The Cleveland Cavs added forward Peyton Watson to their frontcourt, giving starting forward Evan Mobley a defensive wing in hopes of completing a championship roster. Watson’s comparison to the New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby excites Cavs fans as the missing piece for a potential title run in 2027, building on their 4-0 sweep in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
For one NBA insider, the Cavs had two opportunities to trade for a perennial All-Star in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, but chose to stick with Mobley instead, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“They had the option to trade Evan Mobley — they could have offered him for Jaylen Brown, they could have offered him for Giannis, and I think there’s a decent chance that they could have gotten either of them,” Windhorst said. “They didn’t. Their belief in Evan Mobley is enormous. And they invested hugely in Peyton Watson. They are betting that Peyton Watson will be their missing link in their starting lineup; that two-way wing that will elevate them.
“That is something that’s up for debate, but they could have pulled the steal here. Not everybody believes that, but they could have pulled the steal. Koby Altman’s belief in Evan Mobley, and saying all-in isn’t accurate, but going all in on Peyton Watson, are two organizational decisions that I believe will largely determine what these three years are going to be,” Windhorst concluded.
To complete their foreseeable future, the Cavs inked James Harden to a three-year, $96.5 million extension. Cavs’ Evan Mobley averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in 2026-27.