The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a five-team trade that has added Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore to their roster. While Watson is the headline addition to the team with this move, Whitmore also adds some necessary depth in the Cavaliers’ rotation after trading away Dennis Schroder.
Let’s take a look at the projected starting five for the Cavaliers in the 2026-27 season after this trade:
PG: James Harden (assuming he signs a contract extension)
SG: Donovan MitchellÂ
SF: Peyton Watson
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen
While they look like one of the top three most talented starting lineups on paper, without seeing them together on the court, we can’t say they will be championship contenders.
Peyton Watson had a standout season in 2025-26, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from behind the three-point line for the Nuggets.
But often, it is not just the starting lineup; the whole roster breakdown decides whether the team is a championship contender. So let’s also take a look at the depth chart to understand better what the Cavaliers look like now.
PG: James Harden, Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor
SG: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson
SF: Peyton Watson, Cam Whitmore
PF: Evan Mobley, Mario Hezonja, Nae’Qwan Tomlin
C: Jarrett Allen, Thomas Bryant, Ernest Udeh Jr.Â
While this trade seems to have filled the team’s positional needs, rotations could still vary from game to game based on matchups. Moreover, several players like Jaylon Tyson, Cam Whitmore, and Mario Hezonja can play multiple positions. So this trade has given the Cavaliers a lot of optionality.
Cam Whitmore, although he did not get much playing time with the Wizards, is a promising young player to come off the bench. For his three-year career so far, he has averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while going 45.0% from the field and 34.9% from behind the three-point line.
In terms of being a scoring threat off the bench, Whitmore can also do well on this team, but this now puts the pressure on Tyrese Proctor and Craig Porter Jr. to become the primary playmakers for the bench after the exit of Dennis Schroder.
Both Peyton Watson (23) and Cam Whitmore (22) are also younger than the outgoing players, Max Strus (30) and Dennis Schroder (32). But the Cavaliers also had to give up a 2031 unprotected first-round pick to get this upgrade.
Do you think the cost of a first-round pick and two veteran players was worth these additions to the team? I feel only time will tell if the Cavaliers have found long-term pieces in Watson and Whitmore. But let us know what you think in the comments section.
