The Cleveland Cavaliers are still trying to fortify their roster ahead of training camp. The Cavaliers have kept busy in free agency, particularly in pivoting to Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson after losing out on LeBron James.
Getting either of them, however, has proven to be difficult due to Cleveland’s lack of financial flexibility. Kuminga and Watson are each projected to command a salary of $20-$28 million per year. Watson reportedly turned down a five-year, $70 million contract offer from the Denver Nuggets.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Chris Fedor, adding Kuminga or Watson is “highly unlikely” for the Wine and Gold.
“Getting one of them is going to be hard enough given the salary cap situation that the Cavs are currently in, given the lack of perceived trade assets and given the salary cap situation of some of these other teams that we’re talking about here,” said Fedor.
“For example, you’ve got the Atlanta Hawks, who have said to teams around the NBA, ‘We’re willing to help out Jonathan Kuminga in a potential sign-and-trade, but we need to be incentivized in order to do that. We’ve got to get something back in return that we actually like.’ That’s part of the holdup.”
The Cavaliers are hoping to shore up their bench, and Kuminga or Watson could definitely help. They could also start, replacing Max Strus or Jaylon Tyson.
Unfortunately, that possibility has become bleak, and Cleveland might want to look elsewhere.
The Cavaliers still have to sign James Harden to a new contract after declining his $42.3 million player option to help the team during its pursuit of James.