Nikola Jokic made it clear he’s happy for Peyton Watson, even if the Denver Nuggets are losing him in a major multi-team shakeup.
After Serbia’s win over France on Thursday, Jokic was asked about Denver’s decision to trade Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal, which also involves the LA Clippers, sends Watson to Cleveland and Max Strus to Los Angeles. Denver comes out of the transaction with an unprotected 2031 Cavaliers first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second-rounder.
Watson’s move to Cleveland comes with a four-year, $88 million contract, complete with 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.“
Watson gave Denver plenty to like last season, putting up 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.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, James Harden helped recruit Watson to the Cavaliers. Watson agreed to the deal on 8/19, and Harden finalized his new deal with the Wine and Gold the next day, 8/20.
Harden arrived in Cleveland last season in a trade from the Clippers and produced 20.5 points and 7.7 assists per game in the regular season, then 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game in the playoffs.
The Cavaliers used that version of Harden to help power a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, beating the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons before getting swept by the New York Knicks. It was Cleveland’s first trip to the conference finals since 1992 without LeBron James on the roster. The Knicks, who won the 2026 championship against the San Antonio Spurs, ended that run in four games.
Next season, Kenny Atkinson is expected to start Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. On paper, it’s a loaded five-man group.
Harden’s resume still reads like that of one of the best players in NBA history. He’s played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers, and he owns career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists in the regular season, plus 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the playoffs.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Got Pulled Into A Move With Bigger NBA Stakes
The Cavaliers latest ripple came out of a five-team deal that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland and shuffled draft picks and players across the league. For a team that is always watching the margins for ways to improve, the move adds another young piece to the roster while also placing Cleveland in the middle of a transaction that immediately drew more attention elsewhere in the NBA.
Denvers next step is the one that could shape the broader fallout, as the Nuggets are now being linked to free agent DeMar DeRozan after his release from Sacramento. A six-time All-Star with a long track record as a scoring option, DeRozan would give Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray another offensive layer if the Nuggets close on him, and that possibility makes the original deal feel like only the beginning of a bigger league-wide domino effect. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Have A Roster Decision That Could Spark Plenty Of Debate
Following the recent trade activity, the Cavaliers have an open roster spot and are expected to use it on James Harden soon, but there is another name hovering around the edges of the conversation. Cleveland is also weighing whether to bring in a veteran forward for added experience and depth, a move that would give the front office another chance to shape the rotation as it looks to stay flexible heading into the stretch run.
The player in question has been working his way back from a long injury layoff and has reportedly impressed in workouts and in the G-League, which is enough to make this more than a routine camp-body discussion. For the Cavaliers, the appeal is obvious: a proven option on the wing who could help fortify the frontcourt, even if the path back to a steady NBA role is still very much a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs' Peyton Watson Move Could Be Tied To A Bigger Kuminga Chase
The Cavaliers addition of Peyton Watson in the multi-team trade gives them another wing to work with around their core four, and it also adds to the sense that Cleveland is keeping an eye on the bigger market picture. Watson fits the kind of connective, defensive-minded piece teams tend to value when they are trying to round out a roster without disrupting the main rotation.
Jonathan Kuminga remains the name to watch as the broader trade conversation develops, with his situation still unresolved and no deal officially in place. Around the league, the talk has centered on possible landing spots such as the Lakers, Timberwolves, and Hawks, and the real hurdle appears to be financial, with any agreement likely depending on how much flexibility someone is willing to show. [Read more 🡒]