Clippers pick up sharpshooter Max Strus in three-team Peyton Watson trade
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The Los Angeles Clippers are adding a new face to a roster still stuck in NBA limbo — and Charles Barkley will presumably approve of the aesthetics.
The Clippers acquired veteran small forward Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday as part of a sprawling three-team trade centered around restricted free agent Peyton Watson, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Watson will head from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland and sign a four-year, $88 million contract that includes a player option and trade kicker. Denver receives an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder in the deal.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are sending a 2027 second-round pick previously acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers to Cleveland and absorbing Strus’ $16.6 million salary for the upcoming season through a trade exception. Cleveland will subsequently send Tre Mann and that 2027 second-rounder to the Washington Wizards.
For Los Angeles, Strus brings proven shooting, postseason experience and, apparently, the Charles Barkley seal of approval.
During the NBA Playoffs, Barkley memorably called Strus “a pretty man” on “Inside the NBA,” joking that he couldn’t look the Cavaliers wing directly in the eye because he was too attractive.
Now Strus is bringing those movie-star looks to Hollywood.
Strus gives the Clippers an established perimeter threat capable of stretching defenses and playing off the ball. Strus shot 40.2% from 3-point range during the regular season averaging over 11 points per game. More importantly, Los Angeles was willing to take on a salary Denver wanted no part of as the Nuggets navigated Watson’s restricted free agency.
Watson emerged as one of the most coveted players remaining on the market after a breakout 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old posted career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while shooting 41% from 3-point range. He also erupted for four 30-point games after failing to record one during his first three NBA seasons.
His defensive résumé may be even more intriguing. Since entering the NBA in 2022-23, Watson ranks second in field-goal percentage allowed as the contesting defender among players who have challenged at least 2,000 shots.
That combination attracted interest from several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers. But Denver maintained leverage because Watson was a restricted free agent and could match any offer sheet.
Instead, the Nuggets turned Watson into a future unprotected first-round pick rather than commit $88 million to retain him.
After reaching the Eastern Conference finals last season before being swept by the New York Knicks, the Cavaliers have continued reshaping their roster around Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and James Harden. Cleveland coveted a reunion with LeBron James earlier this offseason, but the NBA’s all-time leading scorer ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
To make it work financially, Cleveland needed to shed salary, making Strus expendable and opening the door for the Clippers.
Strus arrives in Los Angeles at one of the strangest moments in franchise history.
The NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented salary-cap rules by allegedly funneling money through team sponsors to Kawhi Leonard is entering its 11th month. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 in a blockbuster package that would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-rounders to Los Angeles.
That deal, however, remains on hold pending the completion of the league’s investigation into Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers.
So while the Clippers wait for the NBA to determine the fate of one blockbuster, they managed to complete another piece of business Wednesday.
A reliable shooter. A playoff-tested veteran. And, if Barkley is to be believed, perhaps the prettiest trade acquisition of the NBA offseason.