Are the Clippers still trying to add Peyton Watson?
The Los Angeles Clippers have revamped their roster over the last year, trading established veterans for younger players.
Over the past few months, the team has traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac and has a deal in place to trade Kawhi Leonard.
In those deals, they've acquired Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, which was used to select Keaton Wagler.
Should the Leonard trade go through to the Toronto Raptors, they will acquire Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick.
They've also signed Rui Hachimura as a free agent, plucking him from the Los Angeles Lakers.
More Additions?
The Clippers have been linked to restricted free agent Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets.
According to Jake Fischer of the Stein Line newsletter, Watson's stand-off with the Nuggets could go into September as he's looking to be paid between $25 and $30 million on his new deal, while the Nuggets reportedly have offered him between $16 and $18 million per season.
If the Clippers want to acquire Watson, a sign-and-trade is the most likely scenario, but that comes with a complication. The team has plenty of room in the first apron to fit Watson's salary, but no outright cap space to present an offer sheet equal to what Watson is looking for. They also don't have a trade exception large enough to fit his salary.
The complication is that Denver is a second apron team, and can't work out a sign-and-trade where they take back players.
Until Denver gets below the second apron, there isn't a realistic sign-and-trade option on the table for the Clippers as Denver holds too much leverage.
A Smart Gamble On Watson?
Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three in 54 games last season.
He missed the playoffs due to a hamstring injury, and his absence was felt as the Nuggets lost in six games in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He'll turn 24 years old in September, putting him on the same timeline as Garland, Hachimura, Ingram, and Mathurin, assuming they can work out a deal with him as he is also a restricted free agent.
Along with Wagler, this would give the Clippers a core that can play in their prime together in a attempt to be the sum of its parts rather than reliant on one or two stars like they have been throughout the Kawhi era.
