It will cost the Nuggets a lot to re-sign Peyton Watson.
Peyton Watson is set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason, and he will have plenty of interest from other teams if the Denver Nuggets don't make a quick and healthy offer.
Watson averaged a career high 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this season while shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three.
When Nikola Jokic went down with an injury in January, Watson was one of the main players who stepped up in his absence, taking on more responsibility on the offensive end while being a stout point of attack defender on the defensive end.
Watson's Worth
Watson is expected to get a contract worth up to $22 million annually with ESPN's Bobby Marks predicting something in the range of a four-year deal worth $90 million.
A West scout told ESPN, "They could easily just pay him and pay the tax, but we know how the Kroenkes operate. That means sending out either Johnson or Braun, and I don't know where that lands. The injury stuff is a concern, but so is how they struggled without him."
Watson missed the playoffs due to a hamstring injury, and his absence was felt in Denver's first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Without Watson, Denver failed to get consistent stops, even against a shorthanded Minnesota team missing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo in the latter half of the series.
Watson is arguably the best on-ball and playmaking defender on the team, and letting him go would only hurt their already shaky defense.
Watson Worth It?
The Nuggets could make some big changes this offseason as they look to retool around Nikola Jokic in hopes of getting back to championship contention.
Watson is absolutely a player they have to keep on the team moving forward. Aside from Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, he's the most important player around Jokic. Murray and Gordon are only ahead of him due to their chemistry and tenure with the three-time MVP.
Watson doesn't have the reps next to Jokic that Murray and Gordon have, but he's much younger and just as versatile as Murray on offense as a secondary scorer and Gordon as a multi-position defender.
The hamstring issue is concerning, but Gordon is battling plenty of injuries himself and the upside Watson has compared to Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun is well worth the risk.
The Nuggets have decisions to make on their future, but Watson should be part of any of those decisions.
