RADIO
Jaylon Tyson Misses Fifth Straight Game
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Jaylon Tyson (ankle) is out for Saturday's matchup with the New York Knicks, marking his fifth consecutive absence. Tyson has resumed on-court work, and head coach Kenny Atkinson said he is "progressing well" and that the injury is not expected to be long-term. The 23-year-old averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 22.7% from three over his first five games. Mario Hezonja, Tyrese Proctor, and Meleek Thomas should continue seeing opportunities while Tyson is sidelined, but that group could face a tighter rotation once he returns.
Source: Chris Fedor
Source: Chris Fedor
Sam Merrill Misses First Game of the Season
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (elbow) is out for Saturday's matchup with the New York Knicks after leaving Friday's win over Philadelphia after 13 minutes. Merrill has dealt with the elbow issue since the preseason, and Cleveland is taking a cautious approach after it flared up again. The 30-year-old is a career 39.5% shooter from deep but has connected on just 32.6% of his threes through nine games this season. His absence should create a few more chances for Meleek Thomas and Tyrese Proctor, with Thomas especially worth watching after knocking down 46.9% of his three-point attempts over his first six appearances.
Source: Chris Fedor
Source: Chris Fedor
Sam Merrill Exits Friday's Win with Elbow Injury
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Sam Merrill (elbow) did not return to Friday's 119-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers after getting hurt in the first half, according to Serena Winters. Merrill made his first start of the season with Jarrett Allen (knee) unavailable and went scoreless with three rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes. The 30-year-old entered Friday averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 34.1 percent from deep. Meleek Thomas replaced Merrill to begin the second half, putting the rookie in position for additional minutes if Merrill misses time.
Source: Serena Winters
Source: Serena Winters
Peyton Watson Iffy for Friday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is questionable for Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing two straight contests. The 24-year-old is being managed carefully after hamstring trouble also affected the end of his time in Denver. Watson is shooting just 37.1% from the field and 16.7% from three this season, but he has still contributed 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. With Jaylon Tyson (ankle) also out, Meleek Thomas could continue seeing a bigger role if Watson sits again, while Mario Hezonja should stay involved off the bench.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Peyton Watson Ruled Out Again on Wednesday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) will miss a second straight game Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Watson dealt with the same hamstring last season, when a strain and later aggravation kept him out for stretches and sidelined him for Denver's entire first-round playoff series. The 24-year-old is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks through six starts, though he has made just four of 24 attempts from deep. Meleek Thomas scored 17 points in his first career start Monday and could remain in the starting mix while Watson and Jaylon Tyson (ankle) are out.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Peyton Watson Questionable for Monday
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is questionable for Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Watson has yet to miss a game this season, though the hamstring is worth monitoring after he dealt with a lengthy strain and a later aggravation while with Denver last season. The 24-year-old is averaging 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists through six appearances, with much of his fantasy appeal coming on the defensive end. With Jaylon Tyson (ankle) already ruled out, Sam Merrill, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas could all pick up additional minutes if Watson sits.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jaylon Tyson to Miss Saturday's Game
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Jaylon Tyson (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Tyson played through a cervical strain Thursday in Atlanta but is now dealing with a sprained ankle. The 23-year-old has had a quiet start to his third season, though he did score 15 points with three triples against Brooklyn after managing three points in the opener. Mario Hezonja and Sam Merrill could pick up more minutes with Tyson sidelined, while Meleek Thomas (foot) would also be in the mix if cleared. Tyson's next chance to return comes Monday against Oklahoma City.
Source: Danny Cunningham
Source: Danny Cunningham
Jaylon Tyson Available Against Hawks
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Jaylon Tyson (neck) is available for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Hawks, Danny Cunningham said. Tyson was added late to the injury report with a cervical strain but has been cleared to play the second half of the back-to-back. The 23-year-old is averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while holding a steady role in Cleveland's second unit. Meleek Thomas (foot) is out, which could leave Tyson with a few more opportunities off the bench. Sam Merrill and Mario Hezonja may also benefit from the thinner rotation.
Source: Danny Cunningham
Source: Danny Cunningham
Peyton Watson Poised for Ample Minutes in Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is in line for ample rotation minutes in 2026-27, according to NBA.com's Shaun Powell. Cleveland landed Watson from Denver in a five-team sign-and-trade in August, with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting a four-year, $88 million deal. Watson broke out with the Nuggets last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.5 threes in 29.6 minutes while shooting 41.1 percent from deep. He played only 54 games and missed the playoffs with a hamstring injury, so durability is still part of the draft-day equation. Max Strus and Dean Wade are gone from Cleveland's wing mix, giving Watson a clear path to meaningful minutes next to James Harden, though Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill remain in the perimeter picture. Watson has a useful fantasy profile if last year's shooting holds, but the scoring may be harder to repeat in a deeper Cavaliers offense.
Source: Shaun Powell
Source: Shaun Powell
Mario Hezonja Piles Up 28 Points in Croatia's Qualifier
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mario Hezonja posted 28 points, three rebounds, and seven assists in Croatia's 115-80 win over Latvia on Thursday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 31-year-old finished 8-for-13 from the field, converting all eight of his two-point attempts while missing all five tries from deep, with his other 12 points coming at the free-throw line. Karlo Matkovic added 17 points on 8-for-8 shooting, while Ivica Zubac grabbed eight rebounds. Hezonja is back in the NBA on a one-year, $2.8 million deal that reportedly becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on Cleveland's roster past Nov. 15. Peyton Watson's arrival tightened the wing picture, and Hezonja still has to beat out Jaylon Tyson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin for leftover minutes. He remains off fantasy radars unless camp points to a real rotation role.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Cavaliers Waive Cam Whitmore
The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived forward Cam Whitmore, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. Cleveland acquired the 22-year-old from Washington last week as part of the five-team deal that brought in Peyton Watson, but Whitmore never had a clear path to a roster spot. The Cavs were expected to use the stretch provision on his roughly $5.5 million expiring salary, helping preserve space below the first apron before James Harden's new contract becomes official. Whitmore's 2025-26 season with Washington ended after 21 games because of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, and he averaged 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.9 minutes. His career marks sit at 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes over 119 games. He should draw interest once he clears waivers, but his health and next role remain too uncertain for fantasy purposes.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Bruce Brown Linked to Cavaliers in Free Agency
Free-agent guard/forward Bruce Brown has been linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Zach Weiss of SI, who cited Cleveland.com's Terry Pluto. Brown spent last season back with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in 24.4 minutes across 82 games while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. Cleveland could have a roster spot to fill if it waives or trades Cam Whitmore, and Brown would bring low-usage wing depth with past ties to James Harden and Jarrett Allen from Brooklyn. The fantasy appeal would be limited, though, with Brown likely ticketed for a bench role behind Cleveland's established rotation unless injuries open steady minutes.
Source: Zach Weiss
Source: Zach Weiss
Max Strus Earns Praise From Lawrence Frank
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Max Strus received a strong endorsement from president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, who called him "a big part" of the team's plans after the trade from Cleveland. Frank praised Strus as a shooter with feel who can handle, pass, and fit into different lineup groups. The veteran wing gives Los Angeles another floor spacer after shooting 37.0 percent from three across his NBA career. His 2025-26 regular season was derailed by a left foot Jones fracture, but he returned in the playoffs and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 threes across 18 games. Strus should get clean catch-and-shoot chances next to Darius Garland, though his fantasy value still depends on minutes and shot volume in a crowded Clippers rotation.
Source: Joey Linn
Source: Joey Linn
Cam Whitmore Headed to Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers are acquiring forward Cam Whitmore from the Washington Wizards as part of the expanded multi-team trade that also sends Peyton Watson to Cleveland, Max Strus to the LA Clippers, Tre Mann to Washington, and Julian Reese to Denver, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The move gives Cleveland a younger, smaller-salary wing after Whitmore's 2025-26 season ended in January because of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The 22-year-old averaged 9.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists across 21 games while shooting 45.6 percent from the field. The fantasy fit is cloudy. Watson has the cleaner path to impact minutes, while Jaylon Tyson adds more wing competition, leaving Whitmore off fantasy radars until his health and role are clearer.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Max Strus Traded to the Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are acquiring guard/forward Max Strus in the multi-team deal that sends Peyton Watson to Cleveland, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The veteran wing gives the Clippers another floor spacer after shooting 37.0 percent from three across his NBA career. Strus' 2025-26 regular season was derailed by a left foot Jones fracture, limiting him to 12 games, but he returned for the playoffs and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 threes across 18 contests. He profiles as a useful movement shooter in Los Angeles, though his fantasy value will depend on whether he can carve out enough minutes and shot volume in a crowded rotation.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
