Not extended by the Nuggets, Peyton Watson is even more motivated

HAS Denverand Christian Brown managed to get a contract extension, Peyton Watson she could not be rewarded in this way by her leaders. It must be said that the situation of Nuggets is financially complex and therefore they had to choose and move according to their priorities…

« As I understand it, it was just a financial decision. Because of the new collective agreement and another apron. They wanted to stay away from these things » a book 30th pick in the 2022 draft. As a business, you have to operate based on what’s best for your business, and when it comes time for me to make a decision next summer, then I’ll have to operate that way as well. This is no disrespect to the Nuggets and the Kroenke family, who have shown me so much love and done so much for me. They gave me a chance in this league, a chance to show that I will be a part of it for a long time, so everything will be natural. »

He seems to have an understanding, Peyton Watson will be testing the market in the summer of 2026 anyway and probably won’t have his fate in his own hands. If Denver protects him, he’ll certainly be able to sign anywhere he wants, but his leaders will be able to match any offer to keep him, which he apparently does not say is closed.

« It’s never comfortable, but it’s basketball, it’s the NBA… » puts the person in question into perspective. ” You can never get too comfortable because that’s when things start to go wrong. It doesn’t matter if things go my way or not: I will always go out on the field and do my best. Of course, I’m a little disappointed, because I love being a Nuggets player and I love the city of Denver, the fans, my teammates… But it will only motivate me more and I will come out of this all better. »

Future already sealed?

Three years after arriving in Colorado, Peyton Watson continued to see his role change and grow in local rotation. At the age of 23, he is now one of the first substitutes he called up David Adelmanto breathe Aaron Gordon and new kid Cameron Johnson.

The perfect opportunity to definitely explode in front of everyone? ” If he has a good season, he will be able to put himself in the position he wants » underlines his coach. ” That’s how our league works: every year you have to prove it. Then if you work hard and do things right, you will benefit. Peyton is great, he’s already had a really good preseason and everybody has their moment, so he can put his value on the market and I think he will. »

Peyton Watson’s future thus appears unclear, especially since the Nuggets may have a hard time landing him, even if they wait another year. Everything will ultimately depend on the desire of its leaders to move away from the famous ” another apron », while Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown and Cameron Johnson will be well paid in the 2026/27 season.

« It’s still too far to say anything… » already recognizes the 23-year-old winger regarding his future contract. ” Of course, we have ideas and scenarios… Things can go in any direction… But you should never have too high expectations. You just have to go out there and work… »

So far, Peyton Watson continues to seduce his coach and that’s the most important thing: ” Peyton’s activity was excellent: he set screens well and went to the circle » appreciated David Adelman, after the victory in the match against Phoenix. ” Everyone’s going to talk about his dunk (on Khaman Maluach), because it was a spectacular action, but he had a couple of other sequences where he attacked the racquet after the pick-and-roll and that allows us to produce something after that, offensively. »

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.