The Denver Nuggets made it known before the season even ended that they didn't want to lose Peyton Watson in restricted free agency. If time machines were a thing, they'd go back to last offseason and get a deal done. Unfortunately, that's not possible, and although his future is still hanging in the balance this offseason, the organization has made it even clearer where they stand.
As Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Friday morning, the Nuggets are setting a sky-high price (subscription required) on the 23-year-old.
That said, whether it's the Hawks or the Clippers or any other suitor, sources maintain that the Nuggets are seeking compensation on par with what Utah received from the Lakers in their recent sign-and-trade swap that made Walker Kessler a Laker.
In other words, Denver really doesn't want to lose him, but if there is a team willing to give up what Los Angeles did for Kessler (two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps), then the Nuggets could (and should, at that point) proceed with a trade.
As Fischer added, though, that price is "too rich" for the Clippers and Hawks (the latest team to show interest in Watson), which is by design.
Nuggets hope Peyton Watson stays
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported on July 5 that Denver was "very open" to a sign-and-trade (subscription required) involving Watson, with the two sides apart in contract negotiations. Some interpreted that as the Nuggets were leaning toward letting him go, but Amick added that the team's "primary hope" was still to keep him.
That's still the stance the Nuggets seem to be taking even with their complicated finances. If they give Watson the $25 million per year he is estimated to make, they'll be over the second apron. In the end, they could deem that necessary to keep him, or they could make a trade or two to ease their financial burden.
Restricted free agency is always complicated, especially for teams strapped for cash, as Denver is. It's a saga that could drag on for several more weeks, ultimately benefiting the Nuggets, with interested teams like the Clippers, who have the cap space to pay Watson, shifting their attention elsewhere, like bringing Bennedict Mathurin back.
Denver shouldn't want Watson to feel undervalued, at least not more so than he already might've felt after the Nuggets chose to extend Christian Braun last year over him. That ended up working in his favor, and the front office realized they want to keep him as part of their core.
Hopefully, that will be the result of all of this. Watson can go into next season knowing that he's wanted, and the Nuggets can lock down their young talent.
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