The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired small forward Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade. The deal, finalized Wednesday, also sends small forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland.
Watson, a restricted free agent with the Nuggets, will sign a new four-year, $88 million contract with the Cavaliers. In exchange for Watson, the Nuggets will receive a 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.
The Cavaliers sought to bolster their roster in the competitive Eastern Conference, making Watson a key acquisition. He was considered one of the top available restricted free agents, attracting interest from multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers. However, as a restricted free agent, the Nuggets held the right to match any offer. Instead, they opted to trade him to Cleveland for future draft capital.
To accommodate Watson's contract, the Cavaliers needed to shed salary, making Strus expendable. Cleveland is building around a core of Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and James Harden. The Nuggets reportedly were not interested in absorbing Strus’ $16.6 million salary for the upcoming season, a salary the Clippers were willing to take on.
Strus joins a Clippers team that is currently the subject of an 11-month NBA investigation. The league is examining allegations that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by directing funds through team sponsors to pay superstar Kawhi Leonard. This ongoing investigation has placed a blockbuster trade that would have sent Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on hold. The proposed deal involved Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, multiple draft picks, and a pick swap.
The Cavaliers had pursued a reunion with LeBron James during the offseason, but he ultimately signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The acquisition of Watson aims to keep the Cavaliers competitive in the Eastern Conference.