Cavaliers Trade Rumors: Cleveland Shopping Dennis Schroder and Max Strus to Fund Peyton Watson Deal
The Cleveland Cavaliers are working the phones. According to multiple NBA reports, the Cavs are exploring trade possibilities involving both Dennis Schroder and Max Strus, with the goal of clearing enough salary to make a serious four-year offer to restricted free agent Peyton Watson.
This is not a small move. Cleveland is essentially trying to reshape its rotation around Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and Watson is the young wing they’ve identified as the key piece to add.
The math on this is complicated. Both Schroder and Strus are on veteran contracts that eat into Cleveland’s cap flexibility. Schroder has been solid as a backup point guard, but with Darius Garland already at the position, his role has been limited. Strus was signed for shooting and versatility, but his contract now looks like an obstacle rather than an asset.
Watson is the target because he checks every box the Cavaliers need. He’s a 6-foot-8 wing with real defensive ability and a growing offensive game. He’s young, controllable long-term, and would immediately upgrade Cleveland’s ability to defend playoff-caliber wings in the Eastern Conference.
Denver, who currently holds Watson’s restricted free agent rights, would have to be motivated to match any offer. The Nuggets have their own cap concerns and can’t afford to overpay for a player they were already using as a bench piece. If the Cavaliers put together a real offer of $14-15 million per year over four years, Denver might have to let Watson walk.
This is where the Cleveland trade discussions get interesting. The Cavaliers have been reportedly involved in various trade packages, including some discussions where Schroder could go to Kuminga’s team as part of a broader Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade situation. That’s a lot of moving pieces, but it shows how creative Cleveland’s front office is trying to be.
The Cavs came close to a Finals appearance last season before falling to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. They know they’re not far off from a title. But they also know Boston is loaded, Miami now has Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Philadelphia added LeBron James. The competition in the East got dramatically stronger this summer.
Adding a player like Watson would give Cleveland a real answer for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, or Giannis in a playoff series. Currently, the Cavs have to switch Mobley onto perimeter players in critical moments, which forces them out of their preferred defensive scheme.
Strus is the more surprising name to see on the trade block. He was a big signing two summers ago and provided legitimate shooting for a team that badly needed it. But his defense has been a problem, and his contract is starting to look expensive relative to what he provides.
Schroder trading is more understandable. He’s a veteran, he can win games with his shot-making, but he’s also expendable if Garland stays healthy. Teams looking for backup point guard depth will call about Schroder throughout the year.
The timing of any deal is tricky. Cleveland can’t rush this. They need to find the right trade partner who values what Schroder and Strus offer. They also need to make sure they don’t send out more than they get back, because their roster still needs to be competitive in November.
Peyton Watson isn’t a household name yet, but he’s exactly the type of two-way wing the modern NBA is built around. Teams like Oklahoma City, Boston, and New York all have multiple guys who fit that mold. Cleveland is trying to acquire one for themselves.
The Cavs’ front office is clearly not settling. They see the Eastern Conference arms race and they’re trying to keep pace. Whether they can pull off the Watson deal is going to shape their entire 2026-27 season.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
