Peyton Watson's going to be one of the more sought-after free agents on the market this summer, that much we all know. Thankfully for the Denver Nuggets, he's restricted, and they've got the final say on whether to bring him back. That could be a "nightmare" for P-Wat, as his ideal landing spot may give him a bigger shot to break out into a star, and the Brooklyn Nets would allow him that opportunity.
FanSided's Michael Shearer broke down the "Dream Scenario" and "Nightmare Scenario" for the top free agents, and no shock, Watson's on that list. But Shearer has the Nuggets as the nightmare, and the Nets as the dream.
Of course, it does make sense in terms of Watson's potential star power, and that's exactly why the Nuggets need to bring back P-Wat, even if it means trading Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson to save cap space if the Nuggets don't decide to bring back all of the wings next year.
Watson has 'big three' potential for the Nuggets
The Nets would be an ideal situation for Watson because of the potential to become a star with more playing time and a co-scoring role alongside former Nugget Michael Porter Jr. But with the Nuggets, Watson would have to fit into a starting lineup already featuring Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for the lead scoring roles, but it doesn't have to limit his prowess.
In 2025-26, Watson had four games of 30 or more points, including a career-high 35-point game. His shooting was impressive on the highest volume of his career, coming in at 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc. And he improved to a respectable 73.0% from the free-throw line.
It's that explosive offensive potential that makes Watson a threat to become a "big three" option for the Nuggets. He just needed more playing time and the chance to showcase his scoring talent.
Watson's defense puts him on the next level
Watson's defensive talents on the other end of the floor were sorely missed by the Nuggets in the first-round playoff disaster against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's a true 3-and-D wing, and the fact that he can switch off to guards up to small centers helps the Nuggets in every manner of defense they just didn't have in that series.
The overall development package moved Watson to the next level in 2025-26. It sure seems like Watson's going to get his "nightmare" and come back to Denver. If the Nuggets somehow let him walk, it'll be a nightmare for the fans.
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