The Denver Nuggets may have signed DeMar DeRozan in the wake of the Peyton Watson trade, but the more relevant replacement is likely rookie Alpha Diallo.
That’s the case because Watson’s biggest value wasn’t just what he brought on offense. Denver lost defense when it sent Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Diallo looks like the player most equipped to absorb that blow.
He may not have Watson’s shot-blocking presence, but the Nuggets could get similar value on the perimeter, and at a much lower price. Watson carries a $20.4 million cap hit, while Diallo’s is $1.35 million, making the rookie defensive specialist from across the pond a far easier fit for Denver’s books.
Diallo’s defensive résumé is strong enough to make that idea more than just theory. He is the reigning EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year, and with AS Monaco in 2025-26, he ranked first among all EuroLeague forwards in points allowed per possession. He also landed in the top 20 for points per possession while defending the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations.
His profile overlaps with Watson’s in important ways. According to Basketball Index, Watson was in the 97th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, the 92nd percentile in off-ball chaser defense, and the 86th percentile in ball-screen navigation for 2025-26.
Diallo may not reach Watson’s exact level in isolation, but he brings size, length and mobility of his own. At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he can handle switches and guard positions one through four.
AS Monaco leaned on him as a true stopper, often sending him at the opponent’s best player whether that meant a point guard or a power forward. His man-to-man work and point-of-attack defense both stood out in Europe, and he’s positioned to be Denver’s best defensive option off the bench.
The real question is whether that production carries over to the NBA. The league is faster, and the talent level jumps across the board.
Still, if there’s one area of the game most likely to translate, it’s defense. And for the Nuggets, Diallo has the tools to fill the defensive void Watson left behind.
In Other News...
Nuggets Just Made A Jonas Valanciunas Move With Bigger Cap Stakes
Jonas Valanciunas is already out of Denver and onto his next stop in Lithuania, but the Nuggets are still sorting through the financial aftershocks. The club will use the stretch provision on the remaining $2 million cap charge from his contract, pushing the hit over three seasons and giving the front office a little more breathing room as it looks ahead to its books.
The effect is less about this season than the one coming next, when every dollar on the cap sheet matters for a team operating deep in the tax. Denvers move trims its projected luxury tax bill in a meaningful way, a reminder that even a waived player can linger in the ledger long after he is gone from the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Still Have Two Roster Decisions That Could Matter A Lot
The Nuggets have already done a fair bit of reshaping this summer, moving Peyton Watson, adding DeMar DeRozan and then bringing in rookie Bryce Hopkins on a two-way deal. Even with those moves on the books, Denver still has one standard contract spot and one two-way opening available, leaving a little more room for the front office to tinker before the 2026-27 season arrives.
One name to keep in mind for the last standard deal is Lonnie Walker IV, who looks like the most natural fit if the Nuggets decide to use it. The two-way picture is less settled, too, with Julian Reese now in the organization after being part of the Watson trade. He is still expected to be waived, but Denver could also choose to keep him around a little longer as the roster edges toward completion. [Read more 🡒]