The Denver Nuggets have done quite the job putting together an impressive roster in spite of not exactly playing in one of the NBA‘s largest media markets. Yes, Denver is a big city, but let’s face it: stars aren’t exactly flocking to play in the Mile High City.
Part of the reason the Nuggets have been so competitive for so long — including an NBA championship in 2023 — is because of their shrewd drafting, and back in 2022, it looked like they had scored yet another winner in 6-foot-8 wing Peyton Watson.
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Denver plucked Watson with the 30th overall pick of the NBA Draft that year (actually, the Nuggets acquired him directly in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder), and over his first three seasons, he has shown very solid potential as a role player. But is it enough for what Denver really wants?
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley questions if Watson can truly be a part of the Nuggets’ future, particularly when it comes down to crunching the numbers financially.
“His defense is disruptive enough that he’s getting regular rotation minutes, and the championship-chasing Nuggets might feel they need that defense to help realize their full potential,” Buckley wrote. “Then again, they also know his offense is underdeveloped and playoff defenses can and will exploit that. Moreover, they know both he and Christian Braun need new deals between now and next offseason, and they probably don’t have the funds to pay both.”
Buckley then added that Braun is the “clear keeper of the two,” which certainly makes sense after Braun’s breakout campaign in 2024-25.
He then proposes a trade in which the Nuggets would send Watson to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guard Devin Carter and a 2027 second-round pick (via the Charlotte Hornets).
“Should Denver want to get something now for Watson, then, it could call up the Kings and give Carter, last year’s 13th pick, a shot to fill the backup point guard role,” Buckley explained. “His rookie season was choppy, but Sacramento hasn’t exactly been the most fertile developmental environment, so maybe a scenery change and roster upgrade could get his career going.”
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Watson averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds over 24.4 minutes per game on 47.7/35.3/69.3 shooting splits last season. Meanwhile, Carter logged 3.8 points and 2.1 boards across 11 minutes a night while making 37 percent of his field-goal attempts.
It doesn’t seem like a glamorous trade for Denver, but it could be the type of move the Nuggets are forced to make if they decide they want to jettison Watson before they have to pay him.
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