NBA Player News

The addition of Peyton Watson could be beneficial for Mobley if Watson's improved outside shooting carries over to Cleveland.

Watson connected on 41.1 percent of his three-pointers last season over 54 regular-season games, and having a credible floor spacer at forward will make it easier for the Cavaliers to continue playing Mobley alongside Jarrett Allen without compromising spacing around Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Watson's defensive versatility also gives Cleveland another option for switch-heavy lineups alongside Mobley, although Watson's career-long reluctance to shoot at high volume makes his offensive fit worth monitoring.

Peyton Watson's arrival gives Cleveland another option on the wing, though Merrill's elite perimeter shooting provides him with a skill that remains particularly valuable alongside Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Watson shot 41.1 percent from three last season over 54 regular-season games, but he's historically been a relatively low-volume shooter, so Merrill could continue to have a role when the Cavaliers need additional floor spacing. Even so, Cleveland's increasingly crowded wing rotation leaves Merrill with a relatively narrow path to consistent fantasy relevance.

The Cavaliers' acquisition of Peyton Watson adds another high-upside wing to a rotation that already includes Tyson, creating additional competition for minutes on the perimeter.

Watson's four-year, $88 million contract suggests Cleveland views him as a significant part of its long-term core, and his defensive versatility should give him a clear path to playing time. Tyson should remain in the rotation, but Watson's arrival lowers his ceiling and could make it more difficult for Tyson to earn a substantial increase in minutes.

Whitmore (shoulder) was dealt to Cleveland on Wednesday as a part of a multi-team trade between the Cavaliers, Wizards, Nuggets and Clippers involving Peyton Watson (hamstring), Max Strus, Tre Mann and picks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

After being drafted by the Rockets in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, Whitmore will now suit up for his third NBA team. The 22-year-old had his best campaign as a rookie, when he averaged a career-high 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds across 18.7 minutes in 47 regular-season games. Since then, his production has decreased. Whitmore will have a fresh start in Cleveland, though he is likely not close to securing a consistent spot in the rotation.

The Wizards traded Reese to the Nuggets on Wednesday, and he's expected to be waived by Denver, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

It appears Reese will head to free agency once this trade is finalized. Over 13 games with the Wizards last season, Reese averaged 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

The Cavs traded Mann and a 2027 second-round pick to the Wizards on Wednesday in exchange for Cam Whitmore, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Mann will add some depth to the Wizards backcourt, where he'll compete for minutes with Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson. Mann averaged 5.5 points and 1.6 assists on 36/32/85 shooting splits with the Hornets last regular season.

Watson (hamstring) was traded to Cleveland on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. As parts of the deal, the Clippers will receive Max Strus, and the Nuggets will receive an unprotected first-round pick in 2031 and a second-round pick in 2032.

The Nuggets extended a qualifying offer at the end of July, but the team will now move on from Watson, who averaged a career-high 14.6 points, 2.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 29.6 minutes in 54 regular-season games in 2026. The 23-year-old, who also agreed to a four-year, $88 million contract with Cleveland, could make an immediate impact for a team looking to compete in a loaded Eastern Conference. While it's unknown if Watson will start at the three spot, he will presumably have a prominent role regardless.

Strus was traded to the Clippers on Wednesday in exchange for Peyton Watson, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Strus will bring some perimeter shooting to Los Angeles and will likely be operating in a reserve role, helping to back up Brandon Ingram. Strus converted 40.2 percent of his three-point attempts over 12 regular-season contests last season, averaging 2.8 triples per game.

Holiday agreed to a contract Wednesday with Italian club Maxima Roma, EuroLeagueBasketball.net reports.

After spending the past eight seasons in the NBA and the last three with the Rockets, the 29-year-old Holiday is now set to continue his playing career overseas. His deal with the Maxima Roma contains an out if an NBA team is willing to meet buyout conditions, so the door is open for the veteran guard to return to the league at some point down the line.

Santos won't play for Brazil during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and is focusing on preparing for the Warriors' training camp, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

With Santos opting out of international duty, he should have a full offseason runway to get ready for Golden State's training camp. That choice keeps his attention on team preparation after he finished last season in a significant role, including 30 minutes in the Warriors' Play-In loss to Phoenix. With Jimmy Butler (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) rehabbing to start the 2026-27 season, Santos could reclaim a rotation spot right away, putting him on fantasy radars.