Nuggets' Peyton Watson gets $70M contract update as Denver's lackluster offseason continues originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Denver Nuggets have not been able to have the offseason they wanted, particularly when it comes to adding players they believe can help them compete at a high level. A major factor in this is the financial limitations they are facing.
One of their biggest free agents is Peyton Watson, but Denver may not be able to give him the money he wants. Watson is reportedly seeking somewhere in the $28 million-per-year range.
“Peyton Watson and his camp want something in that $28 million north range and the offers so far have been fluctuating between that $20-24 million per year range… When you're Peyton Watson, you want more than Christian Braun," ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel said.
Still, teams are trying to convince Denver to move Watson through a sign-and-trade. The Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers have all expressed interest.
“That is why teams like the LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Atlanta Hawks have all expressed sign-and-trade interest in Watson over the last month. Interest from the Clippers, Bucks, and Cavs is real, yet there are still some limitations to each potential sign-and-trade scenario," Siegel wrote.
The Nuggets recently made an offer to Watson in an attempt to keep him in Denver. The team offered him a four-year, $70 million contract.
“The Nuggets have offered Peyton Watson a four-year, $70 million contract, which includes a team option in 2029-30, per @sam_amick. Watson and Klutch Sports declined that offer continuing to seek larger annual pay elsewhere via sign-and-trade,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
That offer is well below what Watson and his camp are seeking, making a sign-and-trade increasingly likely if Denver and the 23-year-old cannot reach an agreement. Watson is looking to establish himself in a bigger role while securing a significant long-term contract this offseason.
Unfortunately for Denver, the financial restrictions surrounding the organization could prevent them from keeping one of their young breakout players. Losing Watson would be a tough blow for the Nuggets, but it could ultimately be the price they pay for being in a difficult financial position.
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