When the Denver Nuggets traded Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, everyone's first thought was who the Nuggets would replace him with. The Nuggets promptly signed DeMar DeRozan in the wake of the trade, and most assumed he was the answer for Watson. DeRozan could definitely fit that mold offensively, but the Nuggets lost more defense with Watson's departure than anything else. That's why Nuggets rookie Alpha Diallo is the more likely replacement for Watson, despite his lack of experience.
Diallo is the reigning EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year. And while he might not be the shot blocker that Watson is, Diallo could be every bit as good at defending the perimeter as Watson was. And even if Diallo is just a slight downgrade, the cost savings between Watson's $20.4 million and Diallo's $1.35 million cap hit warranted the Nuggets leaning on the 29-year-old rookie defensive specialist from across the pond for the good of their books.
Diallo excels in the same defensive metrics as Watson
Watson had elite-level defense per the metrics. According to Basketball Index, Watson ranks in the 97th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, the 92nd percentile in off-ball chaser defense, and the 86th percentile for ball-screen navigation for 2025-26. All very, very impressive numbers.
But Diallo excels at many of the same facets of the defensive game. For 2025-26 with AS Monaco, the DPOY, Diallo, ranked first among all EuroLeague forwards in points allowed per possession, and he was in the top-20 for points per possession when guarding the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll. Diallo uses his 6-foot-7 size and 6-foot-10 wingspan along with his speed to navigate switches, and he can comfortably guard the one through four on the switch.
Diallo is an excellent man-to-man defender, and his point-of-attack defense is also at an elite level in the EuroLeague. AS Monaco routinely deployed Diallo to guard the opponent's best player, whether they were the point guard or power forward. Sure, he might not grade out at the 98th percentile like Watson in isolation, but Diallo is absolutely going to be the best defender the Nuggets have coming off the bench.
Will Diallo's defense translate to the NBA?
The biggest question mark is whether or not that same defensive prowess will translate to the NBA. The NBA is obviously a faster game, with nearly everyone on the roster more skilled than their counterparts in European leagues. But if there was one skill set that has the best chance of making the transition, it's on defense.
Trading Watson definitely hurt the defense, but Diallo has all of the tools to be an ideal replacement on the defensive end.
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