Now, it's Brian Windhorst. Windy stated on his podcast, the Hoop Collective, what Nugget's fans have begun to fear: Peyton Watson is "gettable."
This is the second time in two days that Watson's been mentioned as gettable for the Lakers. The rumor has been propagating for weeks now. That's a pattern. Do Nuggets fans really have to start preparing for a reality without P-Wat?
They're already getting a good glimpse of it. Watson is currently missing time with a grade 2 hamstring injury. He's about a week into his four-week evaluation period, targeting sometime around the first week of March for a return.
Windhorst made it clear that there was only one avenue, a "narrow little car-pool lane," for the Lakers to sign Watson in restricted free-agency: Pay him. Pay him over market value so the Nuggets can't match their offer. Windy explicitly states the Nuggets' past problems with the luxury tax and the upcoming money owed to other players as speed bumps on the road to re-signing P-Wat.
Watson's in the middle of a career year. The 4th-year wing from UCLA started 39 of Denver's 54 games, and he's averaging 20+ since the calendar flipped to 2026. He took the leap to budding superstar, and became a true third option in the Nuggets' starting core. Losing him next season and beyond would dismantle the new 'Big 3' in Denver.
And watching P-Wat in the Purple and Gold, as a Laker, one of our rivals? That would sting. The Nuggets should get creative with their cap hit to avoid this scenario, but if the Lakers decide to over-pay for P-Wat, there may not be much the Nuggets can do.
The Nuggets have another wing showing he's a capable replacement
Peyton Watson's exit from the starting lineup opened up a spot for Julian Strawther. And Strawther has made the most of his opportunity. In his first two starts as P-Wat's replacement, Strawther went for 19 and 5 and 20 and 6. He's scored in double digits in five straight. That's nearly the same level of production as Watson was giving us.
Strawther's got a team option for next year, so he'll likely be back after the way he's been playing lately. Ideally, he's one of the core reserves, spelling Watson next season. And if Watson does leave, Strawther will likely be the biggest benefactor.
But for the next few months, get used to these rumors. P-Wat's one of the top RFA's available, and everyone will be eyeing him.