The Nuggets’ offseason picture is starting to get tangled, and Peyton Watson may be at the center of it.
Denver appears to be hoping it can land a solid return for the young forward, which would be the cleanest outcome for the team. If the Nuggets can use the summer to get better on both ends of the floor, moving Watson wouldn’t be a crazy path to consider.
But if Denver can’t work out a sign-and-trade that makes sense for both sides, the ripple effect could reach far beyond Watson. That’s where Jamal Murray enters the conversation. There has been some unusual buzz around the Nuggets potentially moving him, and one writer recently doubled down on that idea.
“Denver's championship honeymoon is officially over after enduring back-to-back operational failures in the postseason.
“Word out of the Rockies indicates that anyone not named Nikola Jokic is completely gettable via trade this offseason. If the front office decides to allocate long-term capital to retain restricted free agent Peyton Watson, Jamal Murray becomes the ultimate blue-chip chip to restock their dry asset cupboard or to address specific team needs,” Joe Cervenka wrote.
There’s no question Murray remains a player worth liking. The bigger issue is whether dealing him would actually help Denver.
That’s where the real skepticism comes in. Even if the Nuggets decide to listen, they’d still have to find a return that beats what Murray already gives them. If he ever does hit the market, that’s the question Denver will have to answer.
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Russell Westbrooks name is now back in the conversation because of that need, even after one season in Denver left a complicated ending. The Nuggets are looking at a thin backup-guard picture, and with Westbrook available again, the idea of revisiting a player few expected to circle back has become part of the discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic Looks Ready But Nuggets Fans Still Have One Offseason Fear
Nikola Jokic has reportedly been in good shape this offseason, and that alone is enough to calm some nerves in Denver after a summer that has brought more subtraction than splash. The Nuggets have added Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones, but they also lost Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, leaving the front office with a thinner margin for error as it tries to keep the roster competitive around its star center.
Denver has created cap space, yet the bigger concern for Nuggets fans is what has not happened so far. The team has been working on new deals for Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, but the overall pace of the offseason has been quiet, and there still has not been a major move to strengthen the group for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Jokic Has Nuggets Fans Reading Into One New Offseason Look
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It comes at a time when the Nuggets have not dramatically reshaped the roster after their first-round playoff exit, even with additions like Marvin Bagley III and Tyus Jones and a few familiar veterans moving on. Jokic also spent part of last season dealing with a hyperextended left knee that cost him four weeks, so the slimmer look has naturally prompted some speculation that he may be approaching the year with a little extra attention on staying fresh. [Read more 🡒]