What happened: Cleveland is willing to include Max Strus or Dennis Schroder to make the salary math work. Michael Scotto says the Cavaliers recently called Denver about Watson after spending much of the summer in Kuminga talks.

Why it matters: Watson would address Cleveland's need for a young two-way wing. Strus' $16.6 million expiring contract could help the Nuggets manage their payroll, while Schroder has another season worth $15 million after his $14.8 million salary.

By the numbers: Watson, 23, averaged 14.3 points while shooting better than 40% from three last season.

What to watch: Watch whether Cleveland meets Denver's draft-pick demand or focuses its efforts on Kuminga. The Cavaliers have a 2031 first-round pick available in trade talks.

Sources