Peyton Watson’s potential contract extension was a big story this offseason and came to light again recently when the deadline passed without a new deal. But despite that bit of unpleasantness, Watson has gotten off to a great start and has been a bright spot for the Nuggets, coming off the bench.
What has been especially surprising is that the team is using Watson in a bit of an unconventional way, letting him operate with the ball in his hands and playing a sort of point-forward role.
He has been pressuring the rim, creating offense, and making plays for others. He looks natural running pick-and-rolls as the ballhandler and allows the Nuggets to get another shooter off the ball.
This has mostly been the way Watson played before his time in the NBA, but in Denver, he has been almost exclusively relegated to an off-ball role, operating as more of a cutter and spot-up shooter. But that wasn’t a natural fit for his game, and this new role has unlocked his best skills and given him a chance to put serious pressure on opposing defenses with his combination of size and athleticism
Nuggets may have dug their own grave with Watson extension
The only real downside to Watson’s play is that a breakout season would make it almost impossible for the Nuggets to retain him in restricted free agency. They were already going to be strapped for cash next year, struggling to avoid the dreaded second apron, and that was with letting Watson walk.
But surely there was and is still some hope that Watson will take an affordable, team-friendly deal to stay in Denver and the Nuggets will find other ways to trim the fat around the margins of the roster.
Unfortunately, the better Watson plays, the less realistic that scenario becomes. It’s now almost a bit of a catch-22 for the Nuggets and their fans; obviously, they want Watson to play as well as possible and help the team win games this year. At the same time, it’s hard not to think that every step forward for Watson will add another dollar to his price tag next summer.
It’s a tough situation, but these are the rigors of the new CBA. The Nuggets have a very talented and very deep roster. They were always going to have to make some tough financial decisions at some point. But it really would be a shame to see Watson start hitting his potential this season, only to see the team that drafted him let him go in the offseason to see him reach his ceiling with another team. It’s a cold game. And it’s a business.