After the Nuggets got bounced by the Thunder in the playoffs, it was clear that some changes needed to be made. At the time, it seemed like the roster was largely stuck, and the only way to make meaningful changes was to sell off a promising young player like Peyton Watson. But the new front office was able to get creative and found ways to upgrade while keeping P-Wat in tow.
This has already proven to be a blessing as Watson is off to a great start and brings a different type of dynamic to the roster that would otherwise be missing. Sure, Watson isn’t one of the best players on the team or anything, but he may be the best athlete, the fastest, the highest jumper, and one of the best defenders.
Denver has very skilled players, but they are lacking when it comes to pure athletes and agents of chaos. Every great team needs that role filled, and for the Nuggets, it’s done by Watson. What he does may not show up in the box score every night, but he makes a major impact and leaves his mark on games in a way that few, if any, other Nuggets players are capable.
Watson’s future uncertain, but his role is vital this year
Watson’s future in Denver is still up in the air as the team was unable to sign him to an extension this offseason, meaning he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next season. The Nuggets can match any offer, but with the upcoming financial crunch, there’s a very real chance that this season ends up being Watson’s swan song in Denver.
If that ends up being the case, it would be a bummer, but it makes it all the more important to appreciate Watson and what he’s doing for the Nuggets. He’s a dirt dog who does all the little things.
The fact that the Nuggets were able to upgrade the roster so significantly, bringing in guys like Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas while keeping all of the young players, like Watson, is incredible.
Without Watson, the Nuggets would obviously still be a very good team. It’s not like he’s single-handedly changing the team’s destiny. But there’s no question he’s a great x-factor type of player for this team, and simply keeping him in Denver was one of the best moves the Nuggets could have made this offseason.