NBA trade proposal sends Peyton Watson to Cavs in four-team deal

The Cavaliers have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Peyton Watson throughout the offseason. One new trade proposal would actually get him to Cleveland.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report floated a four-team deal that would send Watson to the Cavaliers, Dennis Schroder to the Pistons, Max Strus and Cameron Johnson to the Clippers, and draft picks along with veteran role players to the Nuggets.

According to Swartz’s proposal, the Cavs would sign Watson to a four-year, $80 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade with Denver. The move would also leave the Cavs with enough room below the NBA’s first apron to complete an expected new deal with James Harden.

For Denver, the idea is simple. The Nuggets would move below the second apron while adding veteran center Brook Lopez, wing Derrick Jones Jr. and future draft assets, giving them added roster flexibility after an expensive offseason.

Detroit would absorb Schroder into a trade exception without surrendering a player, while the Clippers would bolster their wing depth with Johnson and Strus and remain below the luxury tax.

Would something like this actually happen? That’s another story.

The Cavs have been linked to Watson behind the scenes in recent weeks, but there has been little indication Denver is eager to move the 23-year-old forward unless it receives significant value in return.

Swartz’s proposal attempts to solve that by giving each team something it needs, whether it’s financial flexibility, veteran depth or a promising young player.

As always this time of year, it’s more thought exercise than rumor. Still, it’s the type of offseason scenario that’s fun to kick around while the NBA calendar waits for the next real move.