Peyton Watson credits Cleveland’s late, persistent pursuit for him coming to the Cavaliers

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t one of the first teams interested in acquiring Peyton Watson. However, once they began their pursuit of the restricted free agent, the 23-year-old forward saw how it made sense for both parties.

“They weren’t one of the first teams that was speculated to be interested or one of the first teams that kind of came into the fold, but as soon as they were, they were interested,” Watson said during a news conference on Thursday at the Cavaliers training complex.

Watson was acquired in a sign-and-trade that was part of a five-team deal in late August. He started a career-high 40 games last season with the Denver Nuggets and averaged career bests in points (14.6), rebounds (4.9) and assists (2.1).

Watson did admit it was hard to have patience during the summer because he was eager to resolve where he was going to play this season. The market was also in flux until late July when LeBron James signed with Philadelphia.

Once James decided he wouldn’t return to Cleveland for a third stint, the Cavaliers stepped up their pursuit of Watson and eventually signed him to a four-year, $88 millon contract.

The Cavaliers are hoping that Watson has the same type of impact that New York swingman OG Anunoby and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels had with their teams. Cleveland made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018 last season before being swept by the Knicks in four games.

“We’re really excited about what he’s going to bring to the table right away, but I think even more than that, his best basketball is ahead of him. He’s going to help us win some games, but I’m also really excited about his trajectory with us,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said before handing Watson a jersey with his name and No. 8 on the back.

Watson joins a starting lineup that has Evan Mobley at the other forward, Jarrett Allen at center and James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt. Watson thinks being in a lineup with Mobley and Allen, who are very good at attacking the rim, can improve his defense.

“I feel like it just gives me a lot more leeway and a lot more rope to be more aggressive defensively. I think playing the passing lanes more aggressively and really push up on guys more knowing that I have that back line behind me and I have elite rim protection in JA and Evan,” he said. “I think it makes our team a threat defensively because we can play very aggressive and very physical while at the same time not giving up too many shots at the rim.”

Watson made 41.1% of his 3-pointers last season, but thinks he can be a bigger threat beyond the perimeter. He also understood why some have referred to him as a “3-and-D specialist” — great long-distance shooters who are elite defenders — but is hoping to show that he can be much more.

“I don’t define myself by that term. I think that it doesn’t encompass enough about me just as a person and as a player. I think that I strive to be somebody who can do a lot of different things well. But obviously coming into the league, that’s an archetype that I wanted to fit into to get myself on the floor,” he said. “I have to continue to grow and get better that I never like to box myself in one category.”

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