NBA Notes: Cavs, Peyton Watson, Celtics, Payton Pritchard, Jazz

Cavaliers

Preseason basketball isn’t designed to provide many answers. But for the Cavaliers, it should at least provide a few useful first looks.

Zach Weiss of Cavs On SI identified Peyton Watson’s early work with the starters as one of the things to watch. Makes sense. Watson needs to learn where Donovan Mitchell and James Harden want him, while the Cavs need to see how his ankle responds in actual game conditions.

Watson is beginning a four-year, $88 million contract and is expected to provide the size, athleticism and perimeter defense Cleveland lacked.

Second-round pick Meleek Thomas should also receive an extended look after earning first-team All-Summer League honors, as Weiss noted. Two-way big man Ernest Udeh Jr. and newcomer Khalifa Diop will get opportunities, too.

Just remember: Preseason conclusions generally expire around the same time as preseason statistics.

Celtics

Jayson Tatum will lead Boston in scoring. Stop the presses.

The better question is who finishes second, and John Karalis of Celtics On SI sees Payton Pritchard narrowly edging Derrick White.

Karalis projects Pritchard at roughly 21 points per game and White at 20.5, though he acknowledges those estimates may be a little generous. Paul George could rank second on a per-game basis, but durability remains the obvious concern. The 36-year-old appeared in just 37 games last season.

The actual answer may change weekly. White will start, Pritchard will control bench units and George will score whenever available. Boston mostly needs someone to prevent Tatum from carrying the entire offense.

Jazz

Keyonte George averaged more than 23 points and six assists last season. That apparently still won’t be enough to secure a maximum contract.

Jared Koch of Jazz On SI highlighted Jake Fischer’s recent assessment that George, Ausar Thompson, Brandon Miller and Cason Wallace are all unlikely to receive max deals.

That’s the second-apron NBA. Very good young players will still get paid very well. Teams are simply becoming more careful about handing out max contracts to anyone short of an obvious franchise centerpiece.

George can strengthen his case with another efficient season. Utah can also wait until restricted free agency, when the market may establish his price for them.

Romantic? No. Practical? Very much so.