Дэнвэр Наггетс Пэйтон Уотсоныг багтаа авч үлдэхээр ажиллаж байна

Дэнвэр Наггетс хязгаарлагдмал чөлөөт агент Спэнсэр Жонсын гэрээг хүлээн зөвшөөрсний дараа 23 настай довтлогч Пэйтон Уотсоныг багтаа авч үлдэх асуудал анхаарлын төвд орлоо.

Эх сурвалжийн мэдээлснээр, Дэнвэр Наггетс Пэйтон Уотсонд таван жилийн хугацаатай 70 сая ам.долларын гэрээ санал болгожээ. Түүнийг Милуоки Бакс, Атланта Хоукс болон Лос Анжэлэс Клиппэрс багууд сонирхож байгаа бөгөөд солилцооны наймаа хийх боломжийг судалж байна.

Дэнвэр Наггетс одоогоор цалингийн цэсний хоёр дахь шатлалын хязгаараас давсан тул Уотсоныг авч үлдэхийн тулд зарим гэрээг чөлөөлөх шаардлагатай болжээ. 2025-26 оны улиралд Уотсон дунджаар 15 орчим оноо авч, Никола Йокичийн эзгүйд багаа амжилттай удирдсан нь түүнийг багийн чухал тоглогч гэдгийг баталсан юм.

Түүнийг алдах нь Аарон Гордон зэрэг туршлагатай тоглогчдын нас ахиж буй энэ үед Дэнвэр Наггетсийн хувьд том гарз болохоор байна. Багийн удирдлага Уотсоныг өндрөөр үнэлдэг ч бусад багуудаас ирүүлж буй солилцооны санал өндөр өртөгтэй байгаа ажээ.

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The Nuggets are attempting to retain 23-year-old forward Peyton Watson while staying under the second apron. Scott Taetsch / Getty Images

Now that the Denver Nuggets have matched the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offer sheet for restricted free-agent forward Spencer Jones, the attention turns to Denver’s 23-year-old dynamic forward Peyton Watson.

The Nuggets have offered Watson, a restricted free agent, $70 million over five seasons, according to league sources who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity because the deal is not final. The Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers are also interested in acquiring Watson through potential sign-and-trade opportunities, the league sources said.

And thus begins a balancing act for the Nuggets, who have long stated they value Watson highly, and for Watson, who is in line for a second contract. The Nuggets payroll is currently in the second apron because of the team’s decision to match Oklahoma City’s offer sheet for Jones. The Nuggets are attempting to move a contract or two to get back under the second apron and clear enough money to retain Watson, the league sources said.

Introduced in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement, the second apron is a payroll threshold (roughly $222 million this season) that triggers several roster-building restrictions.

Multiple teams have made sign-and-trade offers for Watson, but so far the Nuggets’ asking price has been high. Watson had a breakout season in 2025-26. He averaged almost 15 points per game and excelled during a 16-game stretch that Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokić missed due to injury in the middle of the season. Watson improved at creating offense off the dribble; he has improved his shooting considerably; and he is one of the Nuggets’ most athletic players.

Losing Watson would be a major setback for Denver. Keeping him with the team becomes more important as players such as Aaron Gordon, who will turn 31 before next season, age out of their prime years. The Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship, but they have not gotten back to the finals since. They are the only team in the league currently in second-apron territory.