The Denver Nuggets are moving closer to one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history.
Let’s continue our three-week series in advance of Media Day on September 29th. With 14 players on the roster and a new mix of players to discuss, it’s important to remember who the Nuggets have, who they don’t have, and what to expect heading into October.
Up next, a check-in on Peyton Watson.
Peyton Watson played more during the 2024-25 season than most fans and analysts remember. Among the 75 players to play over 60 games and start fewer than 20, Watson ranked 13th with 24.4 minutes per game. He was a high minute rotation player for a Nuggets roster that desperately needed his defense and athleticism off the bench to make up for the rest of the rotation.
Watson was solid but unspectacular in that role, blocking more shots (93) than all but Isaiah Stewart on that particular list of backups. Watson’s efficiency also took a step forward, though his volume as a scorer left some questions on the table about the stability of that shooting.
Where Watson still shows areas of improvement is in his finishing around the rim and inside the arc. Among other forwards, Watson ranked 38th percentile in scoring efficiency at the rim, 37th percentile in the short mid-range, and 15th percentile in the long mid-range. Watson was also in the 7th percentile in above-the-break threes, though he finished a sterling 87th percentile on corner three-pointers.
There are questions about ball handling creation and comfortability creating on an island, but those aren’t major concerns of mine, especially in the role Watson’s expecting him to play. He’s a defender and play finisher at this stage of his career. OG Anunoby is currently earning $42.5 million per season for being the best version of that role. Watson can get paid doing the little things, but he needs the trust of his teammates to make mistakes while attempting to grow into that role.
To this point, that trust has been difficult to come by. There’s been (speculated) frustration with Watson among the Nuggets veterans, though it’s mostly frustration over Watson’s frustration. He wants to be great, and the Nuggets need to remind themselves that a (vocal) desire for growth isn’t the worst trait in a young player.
How will all of this affect Watson in his fourth season? The impending contract extension deadline might play a part in that. The Nuggets have until October 20th to come to terms with both Watson and Christian Braun on rookie contract extensions.
While there’s an expectation the Nuggets and Braun will find an agreement, it’s difficult to say with Watson. Can he expect to find a starting job in Denver at any point? Will the Nuggets pay him like a true sixth or seventh man? Jarred Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million deal back in 2024. With the salary cap going up, $12 million average annual value seems like the absolute floor for what Watson should accept.
Then, there’s the opportunity Watson can expect in the 2025-26 rotation. While he’s currently positioned as the seventh man in my rotation, that could change if he struggles. The Nuggets have more flexibility in the frontcourt this year with the additions of Jonas Valanciunas and a healthy DaRon Holmes II. There’s a world where Denver’s primary bench lineups feature the five of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Holmes, and Valanciunas. Even Zeke Nnaji showed some utility at power forward last year.
All of this to say, the pressure is on Watson to perform in a potential contract year. Accepting his role and performing to the highest extent would seem the best way to make an impact with the Nuggets bench unit. They still need Watson’s defense and athleticism, and there will be opportunities to start in place of either Cam Johnson or Aaron Gordon throughout the season.
If Watson can bring improved scoring around the basket, on-ball defense, and poise in difficult situations, he will be a staple in Denver’s regular season and playoff rotation. He can absolutely change games, and there’s still more room for growth in a Nuggets system that’s adapting to new personnel.
I’m worried that the contract situation will cloud things, but there’s time to rectify that before the season begins.