The Nuggets may have the answer in front of them when considering who should fill out their roster.
The Denver Nuggets have two roster spots left to fill this summer, and with the way their salary cap situation looks, the answers may be in front of them.
Earlier this offseason, the Nuggets signed guard Lonnie Walker IV to a one-year, $3.8 million deal. Walker spent time with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and the Philadelphia 76ers before going overseas.
Walker is a player who can play on both ends of the floor at the shooting guard spot and has shown flashes of being a reliable player in the NBA.
The highlight of his career came during his time with the Lakers, where he scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter in the 2023 Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors.
Courtesy of Mark J. RebilasThe Lakers ended up winning that game 104-101, and if it wasn’t for Walker’s heroics, the series could have gone differently.
Walker brings an offensive boost to this nuggets bench, and that’s something they may need down the stretch of the season.
The other player that should be considered to fill out the last roster spots is Peyton Watson. Watson is just 23 years old and after coming off a breakout season in which he averaged over 15 points per game, his value is very high.
The Nuggets tendered a qualifying offer to Watson early in the offseason, but both sides have yet to come to an agreement.
Other teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks have been linked to making a sign-and-trade offer for Watson, but nothing has come about yet.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesPeyton Watson would be an asset to this Nuggets roster if he were to return. Denver has kept the same core of players since their 2023 championship run, and has since rotated veterans to fill out their depth spots.
Watson brings uniqueness to the Nuggets because of his youth. There is a chance that he has not reached his ceiling as a player yet, which could be why he’s looking for a big contract that Denver is hesitant to offer.
Considering where the Nuggets are in terms of salary cap, it may be difficult to offer a substantial contract to Watson, but after a disappointing end to their 2026 playoff run, changes like this may be necessary.
The Nuggets still have time to make roster decisions before the season begins, but after a quiet offseason, they could be looking to make a big move like extending Watson sooner rather than later.
