Nuggets Get Only D in Watson Multiteam Trade Grades
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- Cleveland Cavaliers received Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore, grading B; Watson, a restricted free agent, signed a four-year, $90 million contract after a breakout season with career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and 41% 3-point shooting on higher volume
- Denver Nuggets received the only D, losing Watson as a restricted free agent because they are the NBA's lone second-apron team; three of their top eight scorers from last season — Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas — have left this summer
- LA Clippers earned an A- for acquiring Strus at $16.6 million for 2026-27, with their only acquisition cost being a second-round pick previously obtained from Philadelphia
- Washington Wizards graded C+, landing Tre Mann and a 2027 second-round pick from Cleveland as the least compelling angle of the deal
- Charlotte Hornets graded B- in a separate Aug. 14 trade for Dennis Schroder, who has now been traded nine times and will join his 12th team; he is owed $15.5 million next season, with only $4.4 million guaranteed
- Cavaliers had to surrender Strus, a 37% career 3-point shooter, and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick to dip below the second apron and sign Watson, betting he can fill the wing void between their All-Star guards and bigs
Why it matters: Denver's D grade is a structural story: as the NBA's only second-apron team, the Nuggets couldn't re-sign a 23-year-old breakout they developed, receiving a 2031 unprotected first from Cleveland as consolation. Cleveland spent a future first-round pick to bet on Watson's upside as a wing to bridge their All-Star core, while the Clippers acquired a rotation player for the cost of a single second-round pick.
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