Cavs’ Peyton Watson on loaded Eastern Conference: ‘It’s a party in the East, dog’

The Eastern Conference spent the offseason adding stars, creating contenders and generally making everyone’s path to June more difficult.

Peyton Watson sounds delighted.

“It’s a party in the East, dog,” the new Cavaliers forward said during his introductory press conference.

The reigning champion Knicks remain loaded. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joined Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto. Giannis Antetokounmpo landed in Miami. Tyrese Haliburton is back for Indiana.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, added Watson after reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season.

“Every night it’s going to be a battle, and that’s what I look forward to,” Watson said. “Every team is so talented and well coached that you really can’t take a night off.”

That can make an 82-game season exhausting. Watson believes it can also make the Cavs better prepared for what comes afterward.

“I feel like later on down the road when we hit adversity in the playoffs, we’ll look back at the regular season as a blessing because we played so many elite opponents leading up to the playoffs,” he said. “The competition is everything.”

Watson joins a starting group expected to feature James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He said his objective is to fit seamlessly, defend multiple positions and make life easier for the established core.

The Cavs paid accordingly, giving Watson a four-year, $88 million contract after surrendering Max Strus and an unprotected first-round pick in the trade.

They are betting his size, athleticism and growing offensive game can help move them beyond the conference finals.

The East will provide plenty of opportunities to find out. Watson, at least, is already dressed for the party.

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(Photo courtesy Cleveland Cavaliers/Screenshot)