The Cavaliers have decided to buy high and trade first round draft capital (this time unprotected!) for a wing whose value is mostly predicated on a one month hot streak in the middle of the season. For Hunter, that was a stretch from 11/27/24 to 01/01/25 and Watson from 12/31/25 to 02/01/26. Here’s how the two hot streaks fared against one another in the basic categories. If anyone with access to the better advanced metrics filtered to these dates (EPM, LEBRON, etc) is able to provide any better context, I’d appreciate that regardless of which player it supports:

2024 DeAndre Hunter	2026 Peyton Watson
Team Record	11-5	10-7
Usage Rate	22.4%	25.7%
Minutes per Game	28.1	36.1
Points per Game	22.4	22.5
FG%	.525	.498
3P%	.500	.462
FTA	5.6	5.8
FT%	.854	.703
Rebounds per Game	3.4	5.0
Assists per Game	1.4	2.8
Stocks per Game	1.0	2.5
Turnovers per Game	1.4	2.6
On/Off	+8	+25

Watson did this in a much more on-ball role, which is unlikely to be how he is used in Cleveland, whereas Hunter played as part of a system as a high-level role player during this stretch.

Watson, as opposed to Hunter, has yet to play 20 minutes or score 10 points in a postseason game despite numerous opportunities on a depleted 2025 Nuggets team.

Jayswag96

27 | 6 hours ago

Yeah Peyton is a good player but this was a def contract year jump in performance IMO. I personally would not take the risk on him

jrlandry | Celtics

16 | 6 hours ago

Defense is not accounted for here. Before Watson’s jump in scoring, he was always a impactful defender at the minimum. DeAndre Hunter (despite what the media spun after the Cavs trade) was at best below average on defense.

Appropriate_Elk_6791

1 | 3 hours ago

Name s game he was impacting

njnhoops5630

1 | 2 hours ago

Man it’s pretty easy to spot the people who didn’t watch Watson play on a consistent basis. The idea of his defense is alot better than his actual impact.

He’s a great backside rim protector especially for his position and size. He’s really great at timing up shots. His wing defense is just ok and should be better. He can guard long thin wings decently well but he’s skinny and gets bumped up his spots by lots of strong wings in isolation. He was asked to be a POA defender this year with Braun injured and he’s just okay at screen navigation and defending small guards. He’s better than Hunter but the idea of Watson being this impactful defender on a nightly basis just isn’t true.

FERFreak731 | Jazz

15 | 6 hours ago

If Watson doesn’t pan out for the Cavs, him at 22 million, Mitchell on his 60 to 70 million a year max contract extension, and Mobley’s DPOY rookie max, with Allen making 30 million a year will have the Cavs in 2nd apron hell again

huskersax | Pacers

8 | 5 hours ago

Players cost money. Rarely do these ‘oh boy those contracts are awful’ comments ever actually pan out into meaning anything long-term for a twam, but if you crwal through the wasteland of r\/nba posts through the 15 some years it’s been active every single contact signing or trade post involving a large contract tries to make the argument that ‘there’s no way that team is getting out of those contracts’ and every time teams do in fact get out of their contract issues.

LoggraFloozy | Lakers

2 | 4 hours ago

Yeah exactly there were people complaining about OG anunoby’s contract. And I’m not saying Peyton watson’s an OG anunoby but he’s also getting paid way less than that

Niceguydan8

4 | 6 hours ago

Probably not, honestly. They already have almost all of that on the books this year in large part and they are probably going to be up against the first apron. 2nd apron for this year is an additional 12m in salary.

noknownallergies | Timberwolves

1 | 5 hours ago

Is that including the impending James Harden extension?

Niceguydan8

5 | 5 hours ago

They are hard capped at the first apron.

So yes.

BlockedByMobley [OP] | Lebanon

-1 | 6 hours ago

Yep. Another team thats going to cry about how unfair the second apron is when its their fault they didn’t negotiate with their players.

Lost-Photo-631

12 | 5 hours ago

Difference is that Watson is about to turn 24, and Hunter was 27. Watson is just entering the best stretch of his career. $22 million/season is a worthy gamble, especially in a world where small forwards are so hard to acquire.

Also, Hunter was legitimately good for Cleveland in 2024-25 until getting hurt. It’s not like he immediately turned into a pumpkin. He had a 63% TS in the regular season for CLE.

AgendaPiece1999 | 76ers

3 | 6 hours ago

They’re the same picture.

LegitimateMoney00 | Knicks

0 | 6 hours ago

The 2026 Sixers and 2026 Cavs have one MAJOR thing in common.

AgendaPiece1999 | 76ers

3 | 6 hours ago

Connected to Le King

BlockedByMobley [OP] | Lebanon

-4 | 6 hours ago

Nothing? I’m a Cavs fan and would love to root for a team without James Harden

Little_little_e

2 | 6 hours ago

The Kings get a steal in acquiring Hunter.
Hunter and Keegan Murray is a good forwards duo, both with good defense.

1psithur3 | Kings

1 | 5 hours ago

He’s very meh as a defender but it’s a pretty good player to buy low on. Super tradeable player at the deadline this year as well.

Karl151 | Cavaliers

1 | 5 hours ago

If Hunter/Watson had 3-4 years of consistent production on those numbers they would be on max deals right now. I’m not sure what you’re complaining about. Fans always want these perfect high level players for cheap. Like the Cavs would need to trade Mobley to get Watson if he averaged those numbers during his rookie contract. These types of swings for a starting caliber wing is actually quite fine.

SlobodniFrlanja

1 | 2 hours ago

I totally agree on this. Even think Hunter was the better player from the 2… They’re not going anywhere with this move at all

Longjumping-Store-82

1 | 35 minutes ago

1st round lakers Luke Kennard

okyooo1

-1 | 4 hours ago

PWat is a bitch tbh

December 2024 DeAndre Hunter vs January 2026 Peyton Watson