The deadline for Peyton Watson to sign a rookie extension with the Nuggets came and went with no deal, so P-Wat is on his way to restricted free agency next summer. But Watson told Bennett Durando of the Denver Post that it wasn’t personal, and that “From what I understand, it was just a financial business decision.”
This is certainly true as the team handed out a five-year, $125 million extension to Christian Braun, which will put them right up against the dreaded second apron next season. That comes along with a massive new supermax extension on the horizon for Nikola Jokic, and after the Nuggets owners indicated that they don’t want to pay the luxury tax next year.
That’s going to require cost-cutting, and clearly, an extension for Watson wasn’t in the cards. They can still technically match any offer for Peyton in restricted free agency, but based on the current roster, they’ll be just about $7 million below the second-apron, which almost certainly won’t be able to fit in Watson’s next deal.
It’s a shame because Watson has gotten off to a nice start this season and is clearly a big part of the team’s reshaped bench. He’s one of the only recently drafted players who’s actually playing in the rotation on a nightly basis, and this team desperately needs his youthful injection of energy, effort, and athleticism.
Watson takes a jab at Nuggets
It’s an element that’s generally lacking from the Nuggets’ game, and losing Watson would only exacerbate that issue, but that’s a very real possibility next summer. While talking about the decision by the Nuggets, Watson seemed to take a bit of a subtle shot at the team and alluded to the idea that he’ll play hardball next summer.
He told Durando, “They wanted to stay out of that second apron. When it’s my turn next summer, I’ll have to make my own business decision.” This sounds like the talk of a player who is annoyed and ready to hit the open market to maximize his worth going forward.
It would be tough to see the Nuggets’ relationship with Watson end so poorly and abruptly, but that’s the reality of the NBA’s current CBA. the Kroenkes aren’t going to empty their pockets, so the team will have to fill out the roster cheaply as long as they're paying big money to Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray.
There are worse problems to have, and part of this is the price of success. The Nuggets were never going to be able to pay anyone, so it’s best they prioritized Braun over Watson. For now, all we can do is enjoy this season and hope it leads to another title before we see some major turnover.