Denver Nuggets fans knew this could be a special season for Peyton Watson, given the talk about how much he improved over the summer and the team's decision not to sign him to an extension. What they didn't know was just how important he'd be, and how it'd be both a good and bad thing.
Watson stepped up amid the team's slew of never-ending injuries, and, unfortunately, he was hit with an injury himself in Feb. 4's loss to the Knicks. Still, that doesn't take away from what he did up to that point, and what he'll continue to do when he returns.
From the start of the calendar year to when he got hurt, Watson averaged 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 36.1 minutes per game. He shot 48.6% from the field and 45.7% from three during that span. On the season as a whole, he's averaging a career-high 14.9 points per game on 49.6% shooting from the field and 41.7% from deep.
Watson's agent, Rich Paul, is looking at those numbers and seeing dollar signs. So are the Nuggets, as they know they'll have to enter second-tax apron territory to keep him in restricted free agency, unless they create space by getting rid of another player first (like Cam Johnson or Christian Braun).
Peyton Watson's breakout comes with a major con for the Nuggets
Denver will have the chance to match any offer sheet that Watson gets, but again, the Nuggets have to be mindful of their finances. They want to keep the forward, though, so maybe the new front office duo already has a plan in the works to do so without the penalties that come with being a second tax apron team. Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace exceeded expectations in their first summer together, and they'll need to do so in their second.
We know that other teams, like the Lakers, have their eye on Watson. Los Angeles will be one of the teams in the league with the most cap space this summer. It would be a homecoming for the forward, but one that certainly wouldn't be a feel-good story for those in Denver.
The Nuggets will have to pay up, and with every good outing Watson has had so far this season, his price has quite literally gone up. That's why, when you've cheered for him and the special moments he's had, it's gotten more difficult to ignore that voice in your head telling you that the reason you're celebrating could be why he ultimately leaves Denver.
Watson is just doing his job, though. You can't fault him for that. Either way, this is a chapter that will have a happy ending for the 24-year-old, whose hard work has set him up for quite the payday this offseason.