Peyton Watson continues to be the Denver Nuggets’ primary point of focus for the Denver Nuggets this offseason, but how exactly the Nuggets will proceed with Watson has shifted as the offseason has gone on.
While the Nuggets have declared that signing Watson to a new contract has been a priority for the team, they may not be able to exactly match any offers that Watson receives as his value skyrockets and his expected contract offers touch the $25+ million dollar range.
If the Nuggets aren’t able to afford Watson’s projected contract for the future, another option ahead of them may be to put together a sign-and-trade deal for Watson so that they can use their negotiating power as Watson’s former team while he’s a restricted free agent to at least get some prospects or picks out of him.
Should they go that route, the Nuggets are apparently expecting a healthy return for the outstanding wing, according to a recent report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
What the Nuggets Are Asking For
According to Charania, the Nuggets would expect a return for Watson similar to the assets that the Lakers gave up to trade for Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, meaning a that could include an existing high-end player and a first-round pick, per Charania’s report.
Watson’s overall inflation in value has stood on shaky ground considering that he’s only had one truly notable season, but that season came just at the right time during a contract year for Watson, and considering that a contract of up to a $30 million annual value has been plausibly proposed for Watson, a healthy haul like the one the Nuggets are expecting may not be out of the question.
Being able to get multiple players or picks out of an ultimately failed attempt at signing Watson would be an easy way for the Nuggets to redeem an offseason where they didn’t move the needle much when it comes to the overall talent level of the Denver roster.
Denver’s Advantages
The Nuggets’ ability to negotiate for such a haul is greatly helped by the fact that the free agent market has generally dried up and Watson stands out as one of the best players left on the market, and with the Nuggets essentially controlling the negotiating process, they have a firm leg to stand on to demand such a haul from an interested party.
Only time will tell if the Nuggets make a move for Watson themselves or leverage him in a sign-and-trade, but if they choose the latter option, they could set themselves up well for the future.
