Peyton Watson ☆

Availability

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This season

No data collected yet this season. His averages, lines history and splits fill in after his first regular-season game. Why?

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 28 h ago

  In the scrimmage, the gold team's starting lineup included James Harden, Evan Mobley and Peyton Watson. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen) were both on the wine team.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 28 h ago

  Peyton Watson stood out at both ends. The host estimates he scored around 20 points on four or five threes and would have been the second-leading scorer behind Mobley.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · 28 h ago

  The gold team's defense was much better than the wine team's, and the host thought Watson was a big part of that.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Analysis · 28 h ago

  The host thinks Watson can be special as a help defender at the rim, something the Cavs have not had from a wing. He argues this could free Mobley for his free-safety role, while Watson takes the opponent's best or second-best player.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · 28 h ago

  In the scrimmage, the ball got past Mobley to Jarrett Allen (heard as "Jarrett") near the rim on a pick-and-roll, and Watson blocked Allen's shot at the rim. Separately, in the second preseason game against Orlando, Watson blocked two three-point attempts.

• Podcast Evan Mobley (quoted), via Locked On Cavs · Quote · 28 h ago

  After the scrimmage, someone else (not the host) asked Mobley about Watson. Per the host, Mobley said Watson is always making big plays and that when Mobley thinks he needs to be somewhere defensively, Watson is already there.

• Podcast Kenny Atkinson (quoted), via Locked On Cavs · Quote · 28 h ago

  The host asked Kenny Atkinson (heard as "Kenny") about Watson's rim defense. Per the host, Atkinson said the team already has two great rim protectors, but now it gets a wing rim protector.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Prediction · 28 h ago

  The host predicts Watson could transform a defense that was respectable but maybe underachieving last year into one that should be top 10, maybe even top 7. He adds that much depends on the perimeter.

• Podcast NBA GM survey (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 16

  No other Cavs got votes as best at their position: not James Harden at point guard, Peyton Watson at small forward, Evan Mobley at power forward, or Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen) at center.

• Podcast NBA GM survey (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 16

  The Cavs' summer acquisition of Peyton Watson tied for fourth-best under-the-radar transaction in the survey, with 7% of the vote.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Prediction · Oct 16

  The host thinks the Watson acquisition will be a big game changer for Cleveland.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 16

  The host thinks adding Watson should help Mobley's defensive versatility case this year.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Prediction · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas thinks Hezonja (heard as "Hazonia") has a chance to be a big-time contributor and says Peyton Watson is obviously going to play.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 15

  In the home game against Orlando, Watson erased passing and driving lanes on a couple of possessions. He also had a three-possession sequence that included a three, stonewalling Franz (Wagner, per context) on a drive, and starting a transition alley-oop.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Analysis · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas's analysis: a wing with Watson's defensive ability lets the Cavs be more aggressive with everyone else, because Watson can cover the backside when Allen or Mobley is pulled out of position. Mike also praises Watson's quick jumping for shot blocking.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Opinion · Oct 15

  Danny Cunningham's opinion: Watson passes the eye test at the wing in a way no Cavs player at that position has since LeBron. Danny says he is not comparing Watson to LeBron.

• Podcast Peyton Watson (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 15

  According to Mike, Watson did not like being called a 3-and-D player.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · Prediction · Oct 15

  Mike Lucas: if the Cavs get something from Hezonja, plus Jaylon Tyson's growth (heard as "Jalen Tyson") and whatever Watson brings, they have a legitimate wing rotation.

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 15

  Danny says Watson blocked two three-point attempts "last night", by Danny's recollection both against Desmond Bane (heard as "desmond bain").

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Opinion · Oct 14

  Host opinion: the loss isn't worth an alarm. He calls this a mostly veteran team that may not need much preseason, despite new pieces Hezonja (heard as "Mario Hazonia", likely Mario Hezonja), Peyton Watson and Thomas (heard as "Malik Thomas", likely Meleek Thomas).

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  Finale by quarter: Q1, Cavs 2 of 9 from three and allowed 35, helped by a Jalen Suggs buzzer-beater (only Peyton Watson and Tyson, heard as "Jalen Tyson", likely Jaylon Tyson, made threes). Q2: 3 of 10, allowed 37. Q3: 1 of 5, allowed 36. Q4: 5 of 11, allowed 24.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  The starting lineup included Evan Mobley (2 of 6 from three), Peyton Watson (1 of 5), Mitchell (heard as "Donald Mitchell", likely Donovan Mitchell; 1 of 5) and James Harden (1 of 5). The fifth starter is not named. The starters went 5 of 21 from three combined, counting all their minutes.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 14

  Host analysis: Peyton Watson looked good early but is still adapting on offense, because the Cavs run things differently than Denver did. The host sees this as a process that takes time and calls it no issue.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  In the finale, Kenny Atkinson had Peyton Watson guard Bane (heard as "Desmond Bain"), who shot 3 of 12 and 2 of 9 from three. James Harden guarded Franz Wagner, who shot 7 of 10.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 14

  In Sunday's game against Orlando, which Bane and Suggs missed, Watson guarded Franz Wagner and Banchero (heard as "Paulo Banqueiro") at times.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Opinion · Oct 14

  Host opinion: Peyton Watson has been very encouraging on defense this preseason. In the finale he had two blocks and a steal and did a good job on Bane (heard as "Desmond Bain").

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Prediction · Oct 13

  The host expects the starting five to be James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Allen (heard as "Jared Allen"; likely Jarrett Allen). He says 'I think it's fair to say we know' and 'I believe that's what the starting five will be.'

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 13

  That same five started the Sunday night preseason game against Orlando.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 13

  The host argues Peyton Watson ties the frontcourt and backcourt together better than any small forward of the Mitchell era. Earlier options leaned either offense or defense; Watson can defend at an elite level and make plays in transition. He cites a Sunday play: Watson closed out on Franz Wagner, contested, recovered the loose ball and threw a lob to Mobley.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 13

  The host compares Tyson (likely Jaylon Tyson) and Watson at small forward: Tyson's shooting has been better so far, but he lacks Watson's size and, in the host's view, his athleticism.

• Podcast Kenny Atkinson and Peyton Watson (reported), via Locked On Cavs · Relayed report · Oct 13

  The host says both Atkinson and Watson have talked about Watson being asked to do something different on offense than he did in Denver. The host expects an adjustment period.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  The host says the Cavs need Harden to be willing to take catch-and-shoot shots. He believes Harden shot about 43-44% on those looks after Cleveland acquired him last season. He argues that this role makes more sense because three of the other starters (Mitchell, Mobley, Watson) can make plays for others.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  The starters were Harden, Mitchell, Allen (heard as "Jarrett"), Mobley and Peyton Watson. All five had at least four rebounds.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  Peyton Watson played just under 22 minutes. The Cavs had a 102.2 defensive rating while he was on the floor.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  The host describes Watson's defense: a strong contest on Banchero that led to a badly missed shot, forcing Franz Wagner into a tough miss, and running Tristan da Silva off the three-point line. He calls Watson a big key to a potentially good Cavs defense.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Report · Oct 12

  Watson shot 3 of 10 and missed all three of his three-point attempts. The host is not concerned about his offense.

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  The host asked Watson about moving from Denver's Jokic-centered offense. The host's own view is that the Cavs will ask Watson to do different things offensively, that the adjustment will take time, and that the Cavs will and should be patient. No words from Watson are relayed.

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.

Game log