The Denver Nuggets chose to extend Christian Braun last year over Peyton Watson, a decision that didn't age well, at least not up to this point. You can say the team is between a rock and a hard place, not just financially, but also because of Watson, who is due for a payday.
Marc Stein reiterated on Friday's episode of the "All NBA Podcast" that Watson is looking for more than what Braun received in his five-year, $125 million deal.
"I think in Peyton Watson's case, obviously they're looking at Christian Braun who got $25 million a year over five (years). By all accounts, everything that we've heard on that, they want more than that."
If Watson and his representation felt like what Denver had offered thus far was good enough, the two sides would've agreed to a deal. The wing is looking for more than what the Nuggets have been willing to give him, and more than they gave Braun.
The belief has been that to retain Watson, the Nuggets would have to give him $20-$25 million annually, but it's looking like it could take more, and maybe that wouldn't have been the case if Braun weren't making that much.
Watson's camp is seeking more than what Nuggets gave Braun
Denver is strapped financially as is, and paying Watson would mean taking on a hefty luxury tax bill and entering the second tax apron, unless the Nuggets made a corresponding move or two to clear some cap space.
It doesn't help that, after signing his extension, Braun had a down year, averaging 12 points (down from 15.4), 4.8 rebounds (down from 5.2), 2.7 assists (up from 2.6), and 0.7 steals (down from 1.1) per game on 51.9% shooting from the field (down from 58%) and 30.1% from three (down from 39.7%).
The first year of Braun's extension will kick in this upcoming season, when he will make $21.6 million, and it will top out in 2030-31, when he is set to make $28.4 million.
The Nuggets committed to seeing things through with Braun, not just because he's locked down into a deal for the next five seasons, but also because his trade value isn't exactly high right now.
It's not like all hope is lost and that he can't rewrite the narrative, as that is very much possible, but then again, Braun could also fail to live up to the expectations set for him when he signed that deal. And if the Nuggets end up losing Watson, or deteriorating their relationship with him over money, that would add a whole new element of regret.
The hope is that Denver will pay Watson what he deems a fair deal, and that there will be no bad blood over how the negotiations went down. Oh, and that Braun will have a bounce-back season.
Is that too much to ask?
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