Денвер Наггетсын довтлогч Пэйтон Уотсон хязгаарлагдмал чөлөөт агентийн хувьд бусад тоглогчдоос илүү анхаарал татаж байна.
Денвер Наггетс 23 настай довтлогчоо ирээдүйн гарааны тавтын гол тоглогч хэмээн үзэж байгаа ч багийн санхүүгийн нөхцөл байдал, ялангуяа цалингийн дээд хязгаартай холбоотой асуудлаас шалтгаалан гэрээний асуудал нь тодорхойгүй хэвээр байна. Милуоки Бакс, Лос-Анжелес Клипперс болон Атланта Хоукс багууд түүнийг солилцоогоор элсүүлэх сонирхолтой байгаа талаар эх сурвалжууд мэдээлж байна. Пэйтон Уотсон өнгөрсөн улиралд дунджаар 15 points авч, тогтвортой тоглолтыг үзүүлсэн ч дөрөвдүгээр сард бэртлийн улмаас улирлыг дуусгасан нь багийн амжилтад сөргөөр нөлөөлсөн юм.
Денвер Наггетсын удирдлага Пэйтон Уотсоныг багтаа авч үлдэхийг чухалчилж байгаа бөгөөд одоогийн байдлаар хэлэлцээрийн явцыг ажиглаж байна. Хэрэв баг түүнд өндөр дүнтэй гэрээ санал болговол тансаг татварын асуудал үүсэх эрсдэлтэй тул санхүүгийн ухаалаг шийдвэр гаргах шаардлагатай болжээ. Пэйтон Уотсон өнгөрсөн улиралд Вашингтон Уизердсын эсрэг 35 points, Бостон Сэлтиксийн эсрэг 30 points, 6 rebounds авч өөрийн ур чадвараа баталсан нь түүнийг лигийн хамгийн эрэлттэй залуу тоглогчдын нэг болгосон юм.
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Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson hasn’t been discussed as much as other prominent restricted free agents, such as Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, who remains unsigned, or Walker Kessler, the defensive-minded seven-footer who was a sign-and-trade from the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this summer. But Watson’s situation remains interesting for several reasons.
While the Nuggets want to make the emerging 23-year-old forward a part of their future and park him into their starting lineup going forward, they, like several other teams, are close to the NBA’s punitive second apron. So Watson, like Duren, remained unsigned as of Thursday night.
So what’s next for him?
The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as a team potentially interested in executing a sign-and-trade for Watson, according to league sources who were granted anonymity so that they could describe ongoing deliberations. You can add them to a list of potential suitors that includes the LA Clippers, who are now in a holding pattern after their Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors was paused due to the NBA’s ongoing Aspiration investigation. The Atlanta Hawks, who recently declined a team option on Jonathan Kuminga, are also interested in Watson, according to those sources.
Watson’s skill set is essential to Denver’s success. He broke out this past season, averaging almost 15 points per game while proving his chops as a legitimate scoring option, but suffered a recurring hamstring strain that first sidelined him in February and ultimately ended his season in April. Without him, the Nuggets’ lack of athleticism was exposed in their first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What happens to the Nuggets now?
Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni and more
When you think of the Nuggets, you obviously think of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. But Watson’s archetype doesn’t grow on a proverbial tree.
A 6-foot-8 forward who has proven to be one of former general manager Calvin Booth’s best draft picks, Watson gives the Nuggets the kind of youthful wing that almost every team in the league is trying to find. It’s why he is receiving interest despite being a restricted free agent. (It’s also why Kuminga will continue to receive chances to revive his career despite multiple teams actively choosing to move on from him.)
Watson’s season featured several standout games where he took added scoring responsibility. He had a career-high 35 points against the Washington Wizards, and notched 30 points and six rebounds in a Jan. 7 win over the Boston Celtics that Jokić missed due to injury. Watson was always a terrific athlete but showed skill level last season that he hadn’t displayed previously.
The Nuggets, according to those league sources, value Watson significantly. They feel they are in a good spot to retain his services and just need to let the restricted-free-agency process play out. The three teams registering interest in Watson will almost certainly have to go the sign-and-trade route, which brings its own set of complications.
Denver’s conundrum is finding a potential contract resolution that’s good for Watson while also keeping the team in a good financial space. Because the Nuggets have invested heavily in Jokić, Gordon and Murray, an expensive contract with Watson would likely yield significant luxury tax penalties, something Denver has been loath to do in the past.
The Nuggets are already over the luxury-tax threshold and could approach or exceed the $222 million second apron if they give Watson an eight-figure contract. They signed Christian Braun to a five-year, $125 million extension last summer, but he didn’t play up to that contract this past season. They also traded for Cam Johnson last summer, sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets. That trade hasn’t played out as hoped, either. Denver also lost Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer after he signed with the Miami Heat.
None of this precludes the Nuggets from re-signing Watson to a significant deal, but it does mean the Nuggets must be careful with money.
This adds another interesting piece to what has been a wild NBA summer. The league is still waiting on LeBron James to announce where he will play next season. But Watson, a young and improving player who has grown this season at one of the most coveted positions in the league, is also one worth watching.
