The Denver Nuggets made a bold move last offseason, locking up Christian Braun with a five-year, $125 million extension before he even hit restricted free agency. At the time, it looked like a proactive bet on a young wing who had shown flashes of becoming a legitimate two-way contributor. But halfway through the season, it’s fair to ask: did Denver bet on the wrong breakout?
Because while Braun has struggled to stay healthy and find his rhythm, Peyton Watson has taken the leap-and then some.
Braun’s Extension: A Bet That’s Looking Riskier by the Day
Let’s start with Braun. Coming into his third season, there was real optimism around his development.
He was coming off a year where he averaged 15.4 points per game on efficient shooting, played solid perimeter defense, and looked like a seamless fit next to Nikola Jokic. That kind of production, especially from a young player who doesn’t need the ball to thrive, is exactly what teams want to invest in long-term.
So Denver didn’t wait-they locked him up early.
The deal: $4.9 million this year (the final season of his rookie contract), followed by five years at an average of $25 million annually. That’s starter money in today’s NBA, and if Braun had continued on his upward trajectory, it would’ve looked like a smart piece of business.
But this season has been anything but smooth. Braun’s shooting has cratered-he’s hitting just 21.2% from three-and his overall production is down across the board.
Turnovers are up. The Nuggets are worse with him on the floor.
And then came the injury: a severe left ankle issue that’s kept him sidelined for most of the past two months. Even when he tried to play through it, the results weren’t pretty.
Maybe this is just a blip-a small sample size skewed by injury. But the reality is, Denver paid top dollar for a player who’s now struggling to stay on the floor and struggling even more to make an impact when he’s on it. They bought high, and so far, the return hasn’t matched the investment.
Meanwhile, Peyton Watson Is Taking Off
Here’s where things get interesting. While Braun has been out, Peyton Watson has stepped into a bigger role-and absolutely run with it.
Watson, once viewed primarily as a defensive specialist, is now showing off a complete game. Over the past month, he’s averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s shooting 41.3% from deep, and not just on easy looks-he’s creating for himself, making plays, and looking every bit like a rising two-way star.
Defensively, he’s still a menace. Offensively, he’s becoming a legitimate second option. And in a season where the Nuggets have had to manage without Nikola Jokic at times, Watson has helped keep the team afloat-and even thriving.
If this level of play continues, Watson is heading for a massive payday. We’re talking north of $30 million per season. And here’s where the financial picture gets murky for Denver.
Can the Nuggets Afford Both?
The Nuggets are already above next season’s luxury tax line-and that’s before factoring in any new deal for Watson. They could try to shed salary, maybe move off Jonas Valanciunas’ $10 million contract, but every open roster spot still costs money. And with the new CBA rules, going deep into the tax brings serious restrictions on how teams can build and adjust their rosters.
Denver has never been a team that throws money around. They’ve been strategic, even conservative, with their spending. So the question becomes: will they really push past the second tax apron to keep both Braun and Watson?
It’s hard to imagine them letting Watson walk. He’s younger, more dynamic, and his ceiling might be even higher than anyone expected. But they’re also now committed to Braun for the long haul-and at a price that’s looking steep if his current struggles continue.
What Comes Next?
There’s still time for this story to change. Braun could return healthy, rediscover his shooting stroke, and remind everyone why the Nuggets believed in him in the first place.
Watson could cool off. But right now, Denver is staring down a tough decision.
They’ve got two young wings, both with upside, both with question marks-but only one of them is playing like a foundational piece at the moment. And with the cap crunch looming, the front office may eventually have to choose between them.
This is the kind of situation that can shape a franchise’s future. The Nuggets are in the thick of a title chase, but they’re also navigating the kind of roster-building dilemma that every contender eventually faces.
Someone core to this group might not be around much longer. And how Denver handles that decision could define their championship window.