The Denver Nuggets and Peyton Watson are in a stalemate in their negotiations, largely due to a salary gap that Watson wants and the Nuggets are reluctant to give him. But Watson saw the Nuggets give Christian Braun a large five-year, $125 million extension last year, and he wants his share of the pie, too.
The only problem is that the Nuggets are finally realizing, albeit too late, that they overextended themselves mightily on Braun, and it could jeopardize Watson's return. But even if the Nuggets traded away Braun, would it change anything?
Watson and his camp have been saying he wants what Braun got, or more. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $25-28 million per year. But so far, the Nuggets are only reportedly offering a four-year, $70 million deal, good for an average annual value of $17.5 million per year.
The Braun deal is currently acting as a roadblock. Rightfully so from Watson's point of view if he thinks he is more valuable than Braun. But the Nuggets never should have signed Braun to that large of a deal in the first place.
The Nuggets feel like they shouldn't overpay twice
Realistically, the Nuggets should have signed Braun to something closer to the four/$70 million they are currently offering Watson. Nuggets fans would be a little upset with that after last season's injury-riddled decline in Braun's performance. But at the moment, most fans are really upset with Braun because of the large deal, because Braun regressed and averaged 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 2025-26.
If the Nuggets gave Watson a four-year, $100 million deal, and he puts up 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks, like he did in the 39 games that weren't in the month of January when he was scorching hot when the Nuggets were without Nikola Jokic, Cameron Johnson, and Braun, how does that look?
Nuggets fans would be clamoring that they messed up for the second year in a row with a giant extension. And the Nuggets would be forking over a massive amount in fines to do it, too.
Fans were tough on Johnson for his season, and they had a decent reason to. Johnson and his $21 million salary only averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Johnson did, however, provide elite three-point shooting.
It's a decent comparison of the situation. And you can't fault the Nuggets on this one from their point of view. It's unfortunate that Braun's overpay is going to potentially be a drag on the franchise for years to come, but it's already signed. The ink is long dry. But the damage may be lasting. We're already seeing the first big problems it's creating.
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