Clippers pick up sharpshooter Max Strus in three-team Peyton Watson trade

See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google.

Key points

• The trade sends small forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland in exchange for a 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.
• The Los Angeles Clippers acquired small forward Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday in a three-team trade.
• The Nuggets reportedly were not interested in taking on Strus' $16.6 million salary for the upcoming season, but the Clippers were.
• Watson was a restricted free agent with the Nuggets, and will now sign a new four-year, $88 million accord to join the Cavaliers.
• Nevertheless, the blockbuster agreement remains on hold pending the completion of the NBA's investigation into Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers.

For context, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired small forward Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday in a three-team trade.

Notably, the trade sends small forward Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets to Cleveland in exchange for a 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.

Strus, who "Inside the NBA" broadcaster Charles Barkley called "a pretty man" during the NBA playoffs and remarked he wouldn't be able to look him directly in the eye as of how attractive he was, now joins a Clippers organization that is embroiled in an investigation.

Meanwhile, the ongoing NBA investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by funneling funds through team sponsors to pay superstar Kawhi Leonard is now entering its 11th month.

In practice, the Clipper agreed to trade Leonard to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks.

In practice, the Cavaliers coveted a reunion with LeBron James in the offseason, but the NBA's all-time leading scorer chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million accord. By acquiring Watson, the Cavaliers remain competitive in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

Watson was considered one of the best players still available, and coveted by a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

As a restricted free agent, the Denver Nuggets had the ability to match any offer sheet, and in this case it seems like they'd rather trade him to Cleveland in exchange for a future first-round pick than match the Cavaliers offer, nevertheless.

Since of their salary-cap situation, the Cavaliers had to shed salary so as to acquire Watson. That created Strus expendable with Cleveland building around their Sizeable Four of Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and James Harden.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets reportedly were not interested in taking on Strus' $16.6 million salary for the upcoming season, but the Clippers were.

For now, clippers pick up sharpshooter Max Strus in three remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.