Overview
- Watson said he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in February, returned after about six weeks, and then re‑aggravated the injury in Game 80 before the playoffs.
- He told Michael Porter Jr.'s podcast that Denver pushed a rapid ramp‑up that produced a setback and left him feeling unready for the postseason.
- Agent Rich Paul has said he discouraged Watson from playing while he was injured because it was a contract year and keeping him healthy mattered for his market value.
- Watson was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a multi‑team sign‑and‑trade and agreed to a reported four‑year, $88 million deal.
- The dispute over treatment spotlights how Denver’s roster and luxury‑tax limits shaped the trade and leaves Cleveland with the immediate task of managing Watson’s recovery while Denver uses draft assets to replace a defensive wing.