The Denver Nuggets have opened up the door to a Peyton Watson sign-and-trade, per reports from The Athletic's Sam Amick. The Nuggets have been saying that they want to keep P-Wat around as a top priority, but of course, they will listen to offers. But if the Nuggets actually accept a deal for Watson, then whatever is attached to the other side of that deal will tell a lot about the Nuggets' offseason plans.
That's because the Nuggets will be stipulated on the sign-and-trade due to their, as it stands, first-apron status. The Nuggets have options for what to take back, whether it's only draft picks, another player currently under contract, or another player in a sign-and-trade. The latter is likely out, as it would force the Nuggets to dump the most salary to get back under the first apron threshold, which the Nuggets are currently well past, with four roster spaces to fill.
But the other two scenarios have wildly different outcomes for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets will show their cards with their move
If the Nuggets take back another player under contract in the trade, then that hard caps the Nuggets at the second apron. They are currently just barely under the bar. That would still mean making salary dumps to fit a roster under the threshold.
That's not exactly something that should make Nikola Jokic happy as the Nuggets try to get him to sign his extension. Nor would it be showing LeBron James that the Nuggets are pulling out all the stops in their pursuit of the free agent.
The Nuggets could also get draft picks attached to the player coming back, but their other option is to receive only draft picks in return. The Nuggets could gain valuable draft capital, something they currently do not have, and still stay above the second apron, without limiting themselves via a hard cap at the second apron. This, one would hope, is the option the Nuggets would take if they chose to trade Watson.
Either way, we'll know what the Nuggets can spend and have an idea of their plans if this sign-and-trade ever happens.
The Nuggets can't let this move backfire
If anything, taking as many draft picks as possible and perhaps making the other team take Zeke Nnaji and his contract is probably the best outcome of a Watson sign-and-trade. But the Nuggets would lose Watson, and probably keep Cameron Johnson in his place.
The Nuggets can't mess this up. They need to make sure they do whatever is best from a basketball standpoint. The fines this season could be immense if they violate the second apron, but making Jokic upset by not building a contender around him could backfire big-time next summer.
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