Nikola Jokic spoke about the Denver Nuggets trading Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After Serbia beat France on Thursday, Nikola Jokic was asked by a reporter to talk about the Denver Nuggets trading Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Nuggets, Cavaliers and LA Clippers agreed on a trade that will send Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles.
As part of the multi-team deal, Denver will receive an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder.
Watson signed a four-year, $88 million deal to join the Cavaliers. The deal includes a player option and a trade kicker.
“I’m happy for Peyton," Jokic said, via EuroHoops.net. "He’s a really good guy, brings great energy and is a positive presence in the locker room. We’ll definitely miss him, but I can’t be unhappy for him. He’s truly a great person.“
For the Nuggets last season, Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc and 73.0% from the free-throw line. He's one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, James Harden recruited Watson to the Cavaliers. Watson agreed to a deal with the Cavaliers on 8/19 and Harden agreed to his new deal with the Wine and Gold the next day (8/20).
The Cavaliers acquired Harden from the Clippers last season. Harden averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game for Cleveland in the regular season and 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
Cleveland defeated the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons to reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster. The New York Knicks, who won the 2026 championship against the San Antonio Spurs, swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season. On paper, that's a talented starting five.
One of the best players in NBA history, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the regular season and 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the playoffs.
Harden is still searching to win his first NBA championship. He went to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Thunder, who lost to James and the Miami Heat in five games.
A top-75 player of all time, Harden has made 11 All-Star teams and eight All-NBA teams. He won the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year award with the Thunder and the 2017-18 MVP award with the Rockets.
