NBA Rumors: Clippers, Bradley Beal, Cavs, Peyton Watson, James Harden

The NBA calendar says August. The transaction wire apparently didn’t get the memo.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line offered several updates Wednesday on some of the bigger names still floating around the market, including Bradley Beal, Peyton Watson and James Harden.

Clippers haven’t closed door on Beal

A return to the Clippers remains possible for Beal, according to Stein. Beal surprisingly declined his $5.6 million player option in June and became an unrestricted free agent, with the Heat also showing interest.

Los Angeles has some roster gymnastics to work through first. Assuming its Kawhi Leonard trade is finalized, the Clippers would have 14 guaranteed contracts, with Cam Christie on a non-guaranteed deal. They’ve also been linked to Watson and could still bring back restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin.

In other words, Beal remains an option. Finding him a chair may be the bigger issue.

Cavs still working on Watson

As previously reported (over and over again), the Cavaliers, Clippers and Bucks remain teams to watch for Watson, a restricted free agent with the Nuggets.

Stein reports Cleveland continues to explore trades involving Dennis Schroder and/or Max Strus. Moving either could help create a pathway to acquire Watson on a four-year deal via sign-and-trade.

The Cavs, of course, have also explored possibilities involving free agent Jonathan Kuminga.

Harden still expected back

All of this helps explain why Harden remains unsigned.

There doesn’t appear to be much mystery about his ultimate destination, though. Stein describes Harden as a “lock” to re-sign with Cleveland on a multiyear contract.

The Cavs are essentially keeping their options open while they chase Watson or Kuminga before finalizing Harden’s deal. August or not, Cleveland’s offseason apparently still has a few moving parts.