Peyton Watson was thrust into a starting role for the Nuggets after Christian Braun went down with an injury in mid-November, and he never looked back. His rapid ascension to stardom has led to constant rumors of courtship from the Lakers when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
The Lakers may be able to offer him substantially more money than the Nuggets can. But if Watson does slip away, the Nuggets may already have found the perfect replacement.
Julian Strawther's started the last five games for the Nuggets in place of the injured Watson and Aaron Gordon. And he's played exceptionally well. He's scored 20, 19 twice, 18, and 11 on better than 50% shooting, and he had one game where he went 6-10 from three.
And in the latest shalacking against the Blazers, the largest margin of victory in Nuggets franchise history, Strawther tied a franchise record +48 for the game in plus/minus.
But it's the shooting efficiency that really stands out. And this stretch isn't an outlier for Strawther. He's shot 53% for his career, and he's improved each of his three seasons in the league.
Strawther will also be on a contract-friendly deal for next season, the last year before he too hits free agency or is extended in 2027.
Peyton Watson's going to be hard to keep without some moves
Whether it's a trade to free up cap space or some other financial wizardry the Nuggets front office can accomplish, they have to do something to avoid going even further past the luxury tax threshold. They are dangerously close to the second apron tax and are only $3.6 million away from bumping into that number, which will incur even further fines and penalties.
It's the stumbling block that keeps it from being a certainty to re-sign P-Wat, who's got strong local ties to Los Angeles, which puts the Lakers in the driver's seat from that perspective. And it doesn't hurt them that they've got a lot of money likely available to spend this offseason, either.
So it's important for the Nuggets that they've found someone capable enough at a low price to fill Watson's shoes if the scenario Nuggets fans would like to avoid does occur. Strawther's been getting open looks, and Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have been finding him, and he's made the most of it.
He's been cutting to the basket, creating opportunities, and he's played his way into a pivotal-rotation spot for head coach David Adelman to use as the Nuggets make their run into the postseason. And Strawther's earned the opportunity for a more prominent role next season, if Watson can't be re-signed.