We already know it's very likely to happen. This isn't the first rumor. The question is how much and how long the Lakers will offer Peyton Watson, and whether the Nuggets will be able to match. At least they have the choice, albeit a potentially difficult one financially.
The reports seem to come in near-daily right now. We get it. Peyton Watson's going to get pursued by the Lakers. But as Dave McMenamin reports, P-Wat's not the only free agent they plan to pursue. One of the Nuggets' biggest rivals and the home of Luka Doncic will be courting some big names this summer, including Giannis Antetokounmpo.
LeBron James is a free agent. He's hinted at playing longer, but he could also just as easily retire or go back to Cleveland for his farewell tour. If he doesn't return, the Lakers have a bunch of money to spend.
That's bad news for the Nuggets. They're already expected to be at least $15 million over the luxury tax threshold next year. Re-signing Watson, a restricted free agent, likely puts them back into second apron status, even further into the penalties associated with it.
The front office is going to have to get creative to bring the whole band back for a reunion tour. The ownership's goal this year was to get under the luxury tax, and they have, because they needed to. They'd likely have had no chance to keep to P-Wat if they didn't.
The Lakers have home-court advantage for Watson
Peyton Watson fits the profile for what the Lakers are looking for. A long, skilled defender and an improving shooter from the wing. He's also a hometown product, having grown up in nearby Long Beach, and he played college ball at UCLA.
The local ties are strong, but the Nuggets have a chance to match any offer the Lakers present. However, if the Lakers overpay for Watson, something they could do with the available cap space, the Nuggets may be out of luck.
But it's not all lost if P-Wat bolts for Hollywood. The Nuggets may have found a capable replacement in former first-round pick Julian Strawther. Strawther's been excellent stepping into the starting lineup for Watson, who's currently out another couple of weeks while he recovers from a grade 2 hamstring injury.
In his three starts since moving to the starting lineup, Strawther has scored 20, 19, and 11 while shooting a little better than 50% from the floor. That's all the Nuggets may need if Jamal Murray keeps up his ambitions and performs at an All-NBA level next to Nikola Jokic.
You still don't want to see P-Wat bolt. But at least the Nuggets are deep.