Nikola Jokic said the Denver Nuggets will miss Peyton Watson after the young forward was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while expressing support for his former teammate’s next opportunity.
“I’m happy for Peyton, he deserved it, we will miss his energy and skill,” Jokic said after friendly game between Serbia and France, via Miroslav Cuk. “I don’t think about season yet, we have to play this, but it’s gonna be OK.”
Watson was moved to Cleveland on August 20 as part of a five-team transaction after spending his first four NBA seasons with Denver. The Nuggets received a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, a 2032 second-round pick via Sacramento and two-way forward Julian Reese in the deal.
The trade ends a significant developmental run for Watson, who became an increasingly important part of Denver’s rotation after being selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. His role expanded from 8.1 minutes per game as a rookie to 29.6 minutes per game across 54 appearances during the 2025-26 season.
Watson produced career highs of 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range. He started 40 games and posted a .560 effective field-goal percentage, a substantial increase from the 8.1 points he averaged in 2024-25.
His shooting development was particularly notable. Watson averaged 1.5 made three-pointers on 3.6 attempts per game in 2025-26 after shooting 35.3% from deep the previous season, giving Denver another reliable perimeter option alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Watson also provided size and defensive versatility on the wing, recording 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game last season. His departure removes a 23-year-old player who had developed into a regular starter for a Nuggets team that finished 54-28, third in the Western Conference.
Denver’s 2025-26 season ended with a 4-2 first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For Cleveland, Watson adds another young wing to a roster that finished 52-30 and reached the Eastern Conference finals before being swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.
