Peyton Watson trade grades: Who won Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers deal?
· Yahoo Sports
Peyton Watson -- who came into the offseason as a restricted free agent and deserving of a raise after a breakout season for the Denver Nuggets -- was traded in a three-team deal. His new home? The Cleveland Cavaliers, who have made some moves to free up money.
And they used that cash to pay Watson -- he's reportedly getting a four-year, $88 million deal to join a Cavs team that will benefit from having the two-way player known for blocking shots, stealing passes and scoring decently. The trade sent three-point shooting Max Strus to the Clips.
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So who won this deal? Let's break it down as usual with the details of the trade and the grades for every side of it.
Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers trade details
Cavaliers get: SF Peyton Watson, 2027 Clippers second-round pick
Nuggets get: 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick (unprotected), 2032 Kings second-round pick
Clippers get: SF Max Strus
Cavaliers trade grade
It felt like Strus was going somewhere else this offseason, and to replace him? It feels like Watson is a great replacement as a tough defender and additional scorer behind Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Watson got a huge new contract, but for a Cleveland team that wants to contend in the East again, this feels like an improvement without giving up too much. The only worry will be in five years if that unprotected pick is a good one. But that's to worry about down the road. GRADE: B+
Nuggets trade grade
This has to hurt Denver fans. Here's a team that could knock on the door of contention again and they lost Watson for a pick that will come to them a few years from now. Maybe this is what happens when you have a team that's over the dreaded second apron, but it's a rough reality to deal with. GRADE: C
Clippers trade grade
What you see is what you get from Strus -- he can shoot from distance. He hit nearly three from distance per game last year at a 40.2 percent clip. That'll work and the Clips didn't have to give up much. GRADE: B+
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Peyton Watson trade grades: Who won Cavaliers, Nuggets and Clippers deal?