Denver has had a disaster of an offseason
Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor and contributing writer Tom Haberstroh recap the Nuggets offseason, which lacks any silver lining. Check out the full conversation on "The Kevin O'Connor Show" and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
Of course, the Denver Nuggets getting a unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 Kings second-round pick.
Tom, where do you wanna start here?
Do you wanna start with Cleveland or do you wanna start with Denver, with this deal?
Let's start with Denver.
I mean, what an absolute disaster this is for, for Denver that they lose Peyton Watson, who was one of the, the best young players in the league last year.
23 years old.
Last year when he was filling in for Jokic when he was hurt for that month was extraordinary.
I mean, just when you look at the numbers, averaging 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists with outstanding shooting from downtown.
He really developed into a, a dynamic player that everyone wanted him to be, and they basically lose him for nothing.
Eh, like for what?
Jo- Jokic is in his prime, three MVPs, eight All-Stars, top 10 for all-time player, and in his prime they're just shedding good players on this Denver Nuggets roster.
It's not like he's an older guy like Aaron Gordon.
This is a guy who's growing into, a, a really good starter, a ceiling of a borderline All-Star player, and they just gave him away for free.
This is a, a, a really, really tough off-season for Denver Nuggets fans.
I feel for them right now.
Peyton Watson, 23 years old, and last year as you said, Tom, you look at that hot stretch that he had when Jokic was out.
It was only 15 games.
It's a small sample, but he was a 22-point-per-game guy, nearly 60% true shooting.
He was doing more off the dribble, more out of pick and roll, more out of isos.
He wasn't, wasn't just standing in the corner and hitting Jokic, catching two threes.
He was doing more with the ball in his hands, and I think you look at the difference between what he did in those 15 games compared to the 107 other games, with Jokic largely over the last two years, it's a big difference in volume.
But I do think even as a role player, 25 minutes per game, nine points per game, 58% true shooting with Watson the last two years, he showed off a, a high floor as a guy who can hit spot-up jumpers for you, who can cut to the rim, who can defend multiple positions, who could offer a little bit of weak side help around the rim, and that's where you look at what Denver lost.
This is a team that lost athleticism.
Again, this is an older roster.
This is a team that already is kind of on the fence of true contention, and now losing Peyton Watson, this is now, go back to the end of last season.
They fire Michael Malone, they fire Calvin Booth, they lose in the second round in an epic game seven to Oklahoma City.
Then that summer they trade Michael Porter Jr. And a, and a future first-round draft pick to go get Cam Johnson, so one of their other best young players, MPJ.
S- fast-forward ahead this year, they lose to Minnesota in embarrassing fashion.
Then they trade Peyton Watson, their other best young player, for a tw- a 2031 first and a second.
They have basically in the course of a year traded their two best young players, Michael Porter Jr. And Peyton Watson, for a 30-year-old role player in Cam Johnson and a second-round pick.
