The Peyton Watson stalemate in Denver doesn’t look like something that’s going to snap shut anytime soon.
The Nuggets and their restricted free agent wing are still without an agreement, and the longer this drags on, the more it starts to resemble the kind of summer-long waiting game the rest of the league has already lived through. If last year’s restricted free-agent class is any guide, this one may not break until September at the earliest - and maybe not even then.
That kind of timeline could suit Denver just fine. Around the league, most roster work is already done, and teams are drifting into the quiet stretch before training camps open at the end of September. That gives the Nuggets room to keep pushing Watson toward something closer to their qualifying offer of $6.5 million and whatever number the player side is chasing.
Last year offered a pretty clear blueprint for how these RFAs can unfold. In 2025, four prominent restricted free agents - Cam Thomas, Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga and Quentin Grimes - all went deep into the calendar before signing.
Thomas was first, agreeing to stay with the Brooklyn Nets on September 4. Giddey followed with the Chicago Bulls on September 9. Kuminga didn’t land with the Golden State Warriors until September 30, and Grimes finalized a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on October 1.
Two of those players, Grimes and Thomas, eventually took the qualifying offer path, which is the same route Watson is rumored to be considering in Denver. Grimes’ case is the one that really jumps off the page: he later turned that into a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers as an unrestricted free agent this year after passing on a four-year, $40 million offer from Philadelphia last summer.
Giddey and the Bulls, along with Kuminga and the Warriors, found middle ground and landed on multi-year deals that split the difference between the two sides’ asks. That’s the outcome Denver would probably prefer here, especially since the Nuggets aren’t getting the return they want in sign-and-trade discussions for the fourth-year 3-and-D wing.
And from the Nuggets’ side, the logic is straightforward: just keep Watson.
He fits. He defends.
Losing that defense would sting. The luxury-tax bill would be enormous, sure, but that’s the kind of price the ownership group may have to absorb if it wants to keep the core intact for the long haul.
At least for one season, they can handle it.
For now, though, the waiting appears to be the point. And if the recent RFA market is any clue, Nuggets fans may have a while before this one finally gets answered.
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Jones carved out a significant role last season, starting 37 games and giving the Nuggets the kind of low-maintenance production contenders need around their stars. The financial details made this more than a simple housekeeping move, but Denver still came down firmly on the side of continuity, with Jones expected to remain a key part of the rotation going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Still Have One Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
The Nuggets still have some housekeeping left before training camp becomes the real story, and it centers on a roster spot that has not been filled and a backcourt question that keeps hanging around. Peyton Watsons free agency situation remains unresolved, but the bigger practical issue is the one every contender has to sort out before opening night: who handles the ball when Jamal Murray sits?
For now, Denver does not have much margin there. Tyus Jones is the only true point guard behind Murray, which leaves the team thin in a spot where steadiness matters. The front office is at least looking at veteran-minimum guard options and trade possibilities to add depth, and names like Aaron Holiday, Killian Hayes and Russell Westbrook are part of the conversation as the Nuggets try to make sure the second unit is not a nightly problem. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Could Reshape Their Wing Rotation With One Risky Move
The Cavaliers have been circling the wing market with a pretty specific type of player in mind, and Denver forward Peyton Watson fits the profile as well as anyone. Cleveland is reportedly interested in working out a sign-and-trade for the restricted free agent, which would give the Nuggets a chance to at least control the return rather than simply watching the market set the price.
Watsons camp is believed to be aiming well above the offers that have come his way, which is part of what makes this a tricky negotiation for both sides. Cleveland has also been linked to a framework involving Max Strus and draft compensation, but the real question is whether the sides can bridge the gap without either team backing away from a move that could reshape its wing rotation. [Read more 🡒]