Nikola Jokic opened up about Peyton Watson’s sign-and-trade on Thursday after playing for Serbia against France in a friendly. Local reporter Miroslav Cuk caught up with Jokic as he headed to the locker room after the game and asked him about Watson’s move.
While the Nuggets front office and ownership faced backlash for making the deal for financial relief, Jokic didn’t seem bothered.
“I’m happy for Peyton,” he said. “He deserved it. We will miss his energy and skill. I don’t think about the season yet; we have to play this, but it’s gonna be okay.”
(The interview was translated by Cuk, who conversed with Jokic in Serbian).
Peyton signed a four-year, $88 million contract with the Cavaliers as a restricted free agent. The Nuggets received a 2031 first-round pick from the Cavaliers and a 2032 second-round pick from the Wizards, along with Julian Reese on a two-way contract. Denver waived Reese after the five-team trade between them, the Cavaliers, Wizards, Hornets and Clippers was finalized.
Several fans and analysts criticized the Nuggets for not retaining Watson, who was their best young player and perimeter defender. They felt Denver failed to surround Nikola Jokic with the best possible talent to contend for another championship.
While some were okay with Watson getting traded, they called out the Nuggets for not demanding a player in return to avoid tax and second-apron penalties.
Nikola Jokic drops near 20-point triple-double in win over Victor Wembanyama’s FranceWhile many doubt the Nuggets’ ability to contend next season, Nikola Jokic may have erased some of those concerns on Thursday. He dropped 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Serbia’s 90-87 win over Victor Wembanyama and France in a friendly.
Jokic proved he’s one of the best in the world by outplaying Wembanyama, who many consider has taken over the mantle after leading the Spurs to a finals appearance in his first playoff run. Jokic has made a difference before with limited talent on his roster, so it won’t be surprising to see him do it again, even with Denver losing significant depth this offseason.
Along with Peyton Watson, the Nuggets saw Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas and Bruce Brown Jr. depart this summer. All three players were key contributors on last year’s team. Nevertheless, Denver still has another roster spot to fill, and that could be a swing factor.
According to reports, they are interested in six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan. While he’s years out from his prime, DeRozan remains an efficient scorer and could add value to Denver’s bench.
Read more:
Denver Nuggets Set Sights on 6x NBA All-Star After Peyton Watson Trade: Report
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